Kawhi Leonard to make Raptors preseason debut against Knicks

Kawhi Leonard is set to make his preseason debut for the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena. This marks Leonard’s first game with the Raptors since his return to the team following a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers this past off-season.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed that Leonard participated in practice and is feeling great, though his playing time is expected to be limited to facilitate integration and conditioning. The trade that brought the two-time NBA Finals MVP back to Toronto was finalized in mid-September after an NBA investigation into salary cap circumvention by the Clippers.

In contrast, the New York Knicks are expected to rest their starters for the matchup, as they are playing the second night of a back-to-back. The Raptors are looking to bolster their offense with Leonard's return after finishing last season as a top-five defense.