The gap between Chicago and the contenders is not a gap; it is a canyon. On Wednesday night, the Toronto Raptors did not just beat the Bulls. They dismantled them in a fashion that should wake up every fan in the Windy City. The final score of 135-92 tells a story of a team that simply could not compete against a roster built to win now. This was not a close game that slipped away. It was a 43-point rout, the largest loss in Bulls history for a season opener, according to Yahoo Sports.
Kawhi Leonard, back in a Raptors uniform, made the Bulls look lost before the second quarter even ended. He scored 23 points in just 24 minutes of play. The most terrifying part for Chicago fans is that Leonard was not even at his best. He shot just 5 for 17 from the field, yet still dominated the game. His defense was suffocating, recording four steals and a block while the Bulls offense had no answer for his physicality. The Raptors led by as many as 48 points at one stage, a margin that feels insulting to the Bulls’ current talent level.
A Night of Historic Humiliation
The numbers from Wednesday are hard to swallow for anyone wearing Bulls gear. The Bulls shot a pathetic 27 for 85 from the field and went just 4 for 36 from three-point range. No single Bulls player managed to score 20 points. Even Matas Buzelis, who led Chicago with 17 points, shot just 25 percent from the field. The Raptors, meanwhile, scored 43 points in the first quarter alone. According to Yahoo Sports, they exceeded that figure in one period on five separate occasions during the previous season.
Tiago Splitter’s debut as head coach turned into a disaster. The Bulls endured the most significant defeat ever recorded by an NBA team in a head coach’s first game. The schemes were dismantled on every front. The only category the Bulls won was total rebounds, where they held a slight edge. From points off turnovers to field goal percentage, every other statistical category was owned by Toronto. The message is clear: the Bulls are not ready to compete with the top teams in the East.
Leonard Sets the Tone
Leonard’s performance was a masterclass in efficiency and control. He went a perfect 11 for 11 from the free-throw line, making up for his live-ball shooting struggles. His presence on the court shifted the momentum immediately. He made his first three-pointer less than a minute into the game, setting a tone that the Bulls could never shake. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley each added 23 points, proving the Raptors have multiple weapons. Nine different Raptors scored five points or more, showing a depth the Bulls simply lack.
Despite the blowout, Leonard remained humble and focused on the long-term process. “No, I don’t put targets,” he stated during a postgame press conference. He emphasized that his minutes depend on what the medical staff says. “You can’t rush greatness. Whenever the medical thinks I could push forward and I’m feeling great, whatever numbers they’re looking at, that’s when that time will come,” Leonard explained. This mindset suggests the Raptors are in it for a deep run, while the Bulls are still searching for their identity.
The Bulls have a long road ahead. They visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, a team that will likely expose even more holes in their defense.