Toronto Drops 135 on Chicago, Four Raptors Hit 20-Plus
Toronto dismantled Chicago 135-92, a 43-point margin that wasn't particularly close at any point. Four Raptors finished with at least 20 points — Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Immanuel Quickley each posted 23, while RJ Barrett added 20.
Toronto came out of the gate with intent. Barrett opened the scoring with a driving layup off a Kawhi Leonard assist, and 26 seconds later Leonard himself buried a 25-foot running jumper off a Quickley feed to push it 5-0 — the play that swung home win probability from 80% to 83%. Chicago briefly clawed back through Jalen Smith, who scored 6 quick points including two dunks assisted by Josh Giddey, trimming it to 9-6. But Toronto answered every time. Quickley converted an and-one at 7:38, Kawhi hit two more free throws, and by the time the first quarter's final two minutes arrived, the Raptors were in full control at 26-11.
The closing stretch of the first quarter was where this game effectively ended. Quickley drilled back-to-back threes — a 28-footer and then a 31-footer — both off Barnes assists, pushing the lead to 35-18. Barnes added a 26-footer of his own. Caleb Wilson hit a three for Chicago to keep it from being a complete shutout stretch, but Toronto answered with free throws and a Barrett reverse layup to close the quarter at 43-23. Into the second, Jamison Battle kept the Raptors rolling, knocking in a two and then a 27-foot three off a Quickley assist to make it 48-23. Chicago, without Patrick Williams (coach's decision), never found a consistent second scorer to pair with Matas Buzelis, who finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds, and Wilson's 16 points and 3 steals.
The story of the night was Toronto's depth and balance. Four players at 20-plus points is a statement, and the way the offense moved — Quickley's 7 assists threading the action, Barnes facilitating with 5 assists alongside his 23 points, Kawhi adding 4 steals and a block to his scoring line — looks like a team that has figured out how to weaponize every option simultaneously. Chicago's 92 points on the final board tells you the defense was equally engaged. For the Bulls, Buzelis and Wilson showed fight in a blowout, but this one was never a contest. Toronto was simply operating at a different level.