The Toronto Raptors beat the New York Knicks 148-98 in NBA preseason action at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, October 14 (Philippine time). Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 21 points in 17 minutes in his first game for Toronto in 2,679 days, dating back to the 2019 NBA Finals.
The Raptors reacquired Leonard from the LA Clippers on June 30, 2026. He sat out Toronto's first two exhibition games, so this was also the first time the Raptors fielded their full starting lineup this preseason.
How Toronto built a 39-point halftime lead
The Raptors put the game away early. Toronto scored 42 points in the first quarter and led 86-47 at halftime, shooting 57% from the field for the game. Six Raptors finished in double figures.
Scottie Barnes set the tone in the opening quarter, scoring 15 of Toronto's 42 first-quarter points. Leonard opened his night with two free throws, then hit a contested three-pointer for his first field goal back in a Raptors uniform.
How did Kawhi Leonard look in his Raptors return?
Leonard shot 6-of-12 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, and 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. He added five rebounds and two steals with no turnovers, and Toronto outscored New York by 28 points while he was on the floor.
Head coach Darko Rajaković set a minutes limit before tip-off, and Leonard sat the entire second half. Afterward, he described the night as useful practice, a chance to learn on the fly with the crowd, the fatigue, and the coach calling plays.
Raptors vs Knicks: top performers
Toronto's scoring was spread across the roster, and the bench kept up the pace after the starters sat. Collin Murray-Boyles didn't miss a shot in 16 minutes. Here are the other top performers from the game:
| Player | Team | PTS | FG | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottie Barnes | Raptors | 19 | 8-10 | 6 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | Raptors | 19 | 7-7 | 9 REB, +21 |
| RJ Barrett | Raptors | 17 | 6-12 | — |
| Ja'Kobe Walter | Raptors | 14 | 5-8 | 4-6 3PT, off the bench |
| Tyreke Key | Raptors | 11 | 4-5 | 6 MIN |
| James Wiseman | Knicks | 18 | — | 10 REB |
Wiseman was the standout for New York's reserve lineup. Immanuel Quickley had a quieter night for Toronto, finishing with eight points and six assists on 2-of-8 shooting.
What the result means
The score needs context. The Knicks played no starters on the second night of a back-to-back, and the loss dropped them to 0-4 in the preseason. Toronto's blowout came mostly against New York's bench and depth players.
For the Raptors, the bigger takeaway is fit. Barnes and Barrett scored comfortably alongside Leonard, and Murray-Boyles gave Toronto a strong frontcourt option next to Jakob Poeltl. Leonard's workload over a full game is still the main question before the regular season.
What's next for the Raptors and Knicks
The two teams meet again in New York, and Toronto then closes its preseason in Detroit before opening the regular season at home. All times are in Philippine time.
| Date (PHT) | Time (PHT) | Game | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 16 | 7:30 AM | Raptors at Knicks (preseason) | Madison Square Garden |
| Saturday, October 17 | 7:00 AM | Raptors at Pistons (preseason) | Little Caesars Arena |
| Thursday, October 22 | 7:30 AM | Bulls at Raptors (regular-season opener) | Scotiabank Arena |
Leonard is expected to play once more in the preseason, either against the Knicks or in Detroit. For matchup breakdowns before opening night, follow our game previews, and find more results in our game recaps.
