Toronto Raptors: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

The Toronto Raptors Are Undoubtedly This Year’s Breakout Team

The 2026-27 NBA season is underway, and no team had an opening-night victory like the Toronto Raptors. It’s just one game, but by spring, many will look back and see that Toronto is this year’s clear dark-horse contender.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

The new normal for the Toronto Raptors: 40 point wins, the Bench Mob 2.0, and more?

“Here we go,” said Darko Rajaković, igniting peals of laughter, after being asked about an inefficient night from Kawhi Leonard. Usually, such a thing isn’t necessarily a laughing matter for the Raptors.

Immanuel Quickley News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 23

Immanuel Quickley Is the Key to Unlocking the Raptors’ Offense vs. Wizards

The Toronto Raptors head into Washington to take on the Wizards after both squads came off convincing wins to open their respective seasons. All of the attention was on Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto and how he elevated the Raptors’ lineup, but there was an all-around balanced effort from this team, especially from their starting unit.

Toronto Raptors News / Raptors HQ / October 23

Can the Raptors Replicate Their Opening Day Dominance Against the Wizards?

The Toronto Raptors couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the 2026-27 season after dismantling the Chicago Bulls 135-92, the largest home opener win in franchise history.

Miami Heat News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA 60-point scorers' quiz

Throughout NBA history, only 40 players have scored 60 or more points during an NBA regular-season game. How many of the 40 can you name in six minutes?

The 'Multi-time NBA MVPs' quiz

The 'NBA franchise 30-point-game leaders' quiz

The '30-point, 10-rebound NBA game leaders' quiz

NBA News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 23

5 Things to Know Ahead of Raptors vs. Wizards

The Toronto Raptors are hoping to improve to 2-0 as they visit the Washington Wizards for their first road game of the season. To learn more about the Wizards' current state of affairs, we spoke with Washington Wizards On SI publisher Henry Brown.

NBA News / Yardbarker

Every NBA team's X-factor for the 2026-27 season

Who is the X factor for every NBA player this season? We’re not talking about the go-to guy, like Nikola Jokic or Steph Curry. It could be a big-name player, an all-star, or a bench player, but they are the pivot point for their team.

NBA News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 23

4 Burning Questions: Raptors vs. Wizards

The Toronto Raptors head to D.C. on Friday with an intriguing early-season test awaiting them in the talented Washington Wizards. For Toronto, the matchup offers an early opportunity to see how its defensive identity holds up against a higher calibre of individual talent.

Toronto Raptors News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 22

The Raptors' Big Win is Followed by Even Bigger Test vs. Wizards

The Toronto Raptors couldn't have dreamed of a better opening night to kick off the new season. They led the entire game against the Chicago Bulls as they cruised to a 43 point victory.

WNBA News

Enes Kanter Freedom denied entry after refusing WNBA Finals suite

Angel Reese goes viral for postgame dance moves in WNBA Finals

Sophie Cunningham calls out Angel Reese for 'dangerous' play on eve of WNBA Finals

Olivia Miles leads six-player WNBA All-Rookie team

Kawhi Leonard News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 22

One Thing the Raptors Won't Change Even for Kawhi Leonard

The Toronto Raptors are sticking to the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" philosophy, even with the addition of two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard. Despite adding a proven isolation scorer to the lineup, head coach Darko Rajakovic isn't abandoning the unselfish approach that has defined Toronto's offence.

NBA News / thePeachBasket / October 22

Raptors dominate Bulls in a 43-point season opener victory

Raptors season opener: Pirasanth Gunasekaram looks at Toronto's 43-point season-opening rout of Chicago and what it means for the Raptors. The Toronto Raptors made a statement in their season opener by beating the Chicago Bulls 135-92, proving they’re title contenders.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NBA players to never play in college

Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.

Toronto Raptors News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 22

3 Key Numbers From the Raptors Blowout Victory Over the Bulls

If the Toronto Raptors want to build off last season's top-5 finish and establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference, their season opener offered an encouraging blueprint.

Kawhi Leonard News / Trade Talk Sports / October 22

Is Kawhi Leonard the Raptors’ Missing Piece?

If you’re a Raptors fan, it’s hard not to get a little excited after a 135–92 opening-night win over Chicago. A 43-point victory doesn’t guarantee anything, especially against a rebuilding team, but Toronto gave us a few reasons to wonder whether this season could turn into something special.

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The 'Last 300-yard game by NFL team' quiz

The 'ALCS MVPs' quiz

The 'Most NBA games played' quiz

The 'Last 30-TD season by NFL team' quiz

Kawhi Leonard News / Hoops Wire / October 22

Kawhi Leonard: ‘You can’t rush greatness’ after Raptors debut

Kawhi Leonard wants to “shock the world, again.” His first game back with the Raptors offered an encouraging start. Leonard finished with 23 points, six rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block in 24 minutes Wednesday as Toronto overwhelmed the Bulls 135-92.

Scottie Barnes News / Toronto Raptors on SI / October 22

5 Observations as Scottie Barnes, Raptors Make Statement in Game 1

The Toronto Raptors could hardly have asked for a better start to the 2026-27 season. They dismantled the Chicago Bulls 135–92 on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena, controlling the game from the opening quarter and turning their season opener into a statement performance.

Kawhi Leonard News / Larry Brown Sports / October 22

Kawhi Leonard explains curious move in his first game back with the Raptors

Kawhi Leonard wanted more action, even though the Toronto Raptors didn’t need it from him in his first game back. Amid a blowout against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Leonard started the fourth quarter, an intriguing move given that the game was seemingly already out of the visiting team’s reach.

NBA News / Fadeaway World / October 22

Analysis: Raptors Look Powerful In 43-Point Win Over Bulls

Well, I don’t know how many people had the Raptors beating the Bulls by 43 points on Opening Night, but here we are. Toronto absolutely destroyed Chicago 135-92 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, and I think we just got a pretty interesting look at what this team could become with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup.

Toronto Raptors News / Raptors Republic / October 22