Kawhi Leonard scores 21 in Raptors re-debut as Toronto routs Knicks 148-98

Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 21 points in 17 minutes in his first game back with the Toronto Raptors, a 148-98 preseason rout of the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night, the Canadian Press reported. Leonard added five rebounds and did not play in the second half.

It was Leonard’s first game for Toronto since the 2019 NBA Finals. The two-time Finals MVP led the Raptors to their only championship in 2018-19, signed with his hometown LA Clippers the following summer, and was traded back to Toronto this offseason in a deal that sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, a 2027 pick swap and two second-round selections to Los Angeles.

The trade was delayed by an NBA investigation into Leonard and the Clippers over salary-cap circumvention. The team, owner Steve Ballmer and several executives were punished, while Leonard received a relatively small fine; the deal was allowed through once the penalties were handed down.

“We came in to look focused on defence, and that was my intentions,” Leonard said. “I wanted to just get out, get after it, and get tired. I still want to get in better shape. It was fun to play. The guys have been great. Everybody else has just been helping me out and just trying to make the transition so easy.”

Because Leonard sat out Toronto’s first two exhibition games, Tuesday was the first time the Raptors fielded all of their starters this preseason. Scottie Barnes added 19 points, six rebounds and four assists, and RJ Barrett had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists for Toronto (2-1). Head coach Darko Rajakovic benched the rest of his starters with more than three minutes left in the third quarter.

“I’m just here to fit in,” Leonard said. “But fit out a little bit, just by trying to play great basketball and just being aggressive.”