2018 NBA Preseason: Live highlights and updates from Kawhi Leonard's Toronto Raptors debut

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Scott Rafferty
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The Toronto Raptors couldn't have gotten the 2018-19 season off to a better start.

In the first of two NBA Canada Series games this preseason, the Raptors defeated Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers by 18 points in front of a sellout crowd in Vancouver.

Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green both made their debuts with the Raptors, as did backup centre Greg Monroe.

If you missed any of the action, check below for stats and highlights from the first Raptors game in nearly five months.

Game Preview | Box Score | Play by Play

Raptors vs. Trail Blazers updates

9:35 p.m. - That's a wrap! The Raptors win their first preseason game by a final score of 122-104.

Kawhi Leonard played 19 minutes in this one and finished with 12 points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. Jonas Valanciunas scored a game-high 17 points for the Raptors, and Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet combined for 26 points at the point guard position.

Meyers Leonard led the way for the Blazers with 16 points off the bench.

 

9:27 p.m. - This is the type of shot chart you'd expect to see from a Houston Rockets game:

 

9:18 p.m. - Well done, Vancouver. Well done.

 

9:16 p.m. - He got off to a bit of a slow start, but Greg Monroe is starting to settle in. In 10 minutes off the bench, the veteran has eight points and six rebounds.

 

9:02 p.m. - The Raptors are up 89-78 after three. Fred VanVleet now has 11 points on the night and Pascal Siakam has a solid six points, 13 rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes off the bench.

8:58 p.m. - Delon Wright block, Pascal Siakam drive, Fred VanVleet triple.

 

8:52 p.m. - Greg Monroe checks in for the first time as a Raptor at the 5:25 mark of the third quarter.

8:51 p.m. - Pascal Siakam did it again, pushing the pace in transition and getting a hockey assist. We might be watching the start of a breakout season for the forward.

8:48 p.m. - Stop me if you've heard this before: Toronto's second unit, led by Fred VanVleet, is putting in work.

8:38 p.m. - A different five for the Raptors to start the third: Fred VanVleet, Danny Green, Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam and Jonas Valanciunas.

8:35 p.m. - Is that ... Damian Lillard?


8:30 p.m. - A quick note on Pascal Siakam. He only has two points after two quarters, but he had an important sequence in the first quarter when he pushed the ball in transition and got a hockey assist on a Kyle Lowry 3-pointer.

Siakam told Doug Smith of The Star this week that he's hoping to do far more of that this season.

"I’ve always liked to handle the ball and do things but I wasn’t able to do it before," he said. "Last year, they gave me a little freedom to go out and do it, and I feel like the more you do it the more comfortable you get."

8:22 p.m. - The Raptors have taken the lead going into halftime, 64-57.

Kawhi Leonard has 12 points in 19 minutes so far. He's missed five of his eight shot attempts, but he's been aggressive and he's already taken 11 free throws. His debut has gone about as well as anyone could've expected to this point.

After finding his stride in the second quarter, Kyle Lowry now has a team-high 15 points for Toronto.

8:18 p.m. - Forget for a second that it didn't end in a basket. This is what you like to see if you're a Raptors fan:


8:10 p.m. - This was a slick move by Kawhi Leonard:


7:58 p.m. - Canada's Nik Stauskas is on the board for the Blazers.


7:50 p.m. - After playing 11 minutes together in the first quarter, Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry are back in the game at the 8:40 mark of the second quarter. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is clearly trying to get the two All-Stars on the same page as soon as possible.

7:41 p.m. - That brings an end to the first quarter. The Blazers currently lead 33-32.

Kawhi Leonard scored four points in 10 minutes in his first stint as a Raptor. Jonas Valanciunas leads the way for Toronto with eight points off the bench.

Damian Lillard is off to a hot start for the Blazers, scoring 12 points on 3-for-4 shooting.

One of those makes was a tough 3-pointer over Kawhi Leonard:


7:40 p.m. - Is that Jonas Valanciunas or Giannis Antetokounmpo?


7:25 p.m. - DON'T BRING THAT WEAK STUFF AROUND SERGE IBAKA!


7:24 p.m. - There's a lot more of this to come for Kawhi Leonard.


7:19 p.m. - It didn't take long for Danny Green to get his first bucket as a Raptor, either. It's only fitting that Kawhi Leonard was the one to assist him.


7:14 p.m. - It didn't take long for Kawhi Leonard to get his first bucket as a Raptor. His pull-up already looks like it's in mid-season form.


7:10 p.m. - To no surprise, Kawhi Leonard got a nice reception from Raptors fans in Vancouver.


7:08 p.m. - Starting for the Blazers: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jake Layman and Jusuf Nurkic.

7:02 p.m. - The Raptors have taken the floor! It's almost game time.


6:24 p.m. - If you're wondering what the thought process is behind starting CJ Miles at power forward and Serge Ibaka at center, this says it all:


5:20 p.m. - Kawhi Leonard will start alongside Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, CJ Miles and Serge Ibaka tonight. 

5:00 p.m. - Kawhi Leonard is getting ready for his Raptors debut.


4:58 p.m. - No OG Anunoby tonight. According to The Athletic's Blake Murphy, the sophomore is dealing with a personal matter.

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Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty is a Senior NBA Editor for The Sporting News