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Kawhi Leonard drops 21 points in opening half of Raptors preseason debut after Clippers trade, scandal

Kawhi Leonard made his highly anticipated return to the Toronto Raptors in a preseason debut on Tuesday, delivering an immediate impact with 21 points in just 17 minutes of play. The Raptors dominated the New York Knicks 148–98, with Leonard contributing four three-pointers and leading the team in scoring despite a restricted role from coach Darko Rajakovic.

His return follows a tumultuous offseason, including his involvement in the NBA’s cap circumvention scandal with the Los Angeles Clippers, which resulted in significant penalties for the team and its owner, Steve Ballmer. Leonard, who previously won Finals MVP with Toronto in 2019, signed a two-year, $115 million extension with the Raptors earlier this month after being traded from the Clippers following the league’s resolution of the scandal.

Though he did not play in the second half, his performance underscored the Raptors’ depth, as five players scored in double figures while shooting 57% from the field. The game marked a symbolic homecoming for Leonard, who had last played for Toronto during the 2018–19 season before joining the Clippers.

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