Raptors will open 2026-27 season against Bulls, but Kawhi Leonard cloud hangs over Toronto

Kawhi Leonard cloud hangs over Toronto as NBA team announces schedule for NBA season, featuring New Year's date with Clippers.

Published Aug 13, 2026  •  Last updated 4 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls defends during a game last season. Getty Images

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While the situation involving the trade that will see Kawhi Leonard return to Toronto remains clouded, the Raptors at least now have clarity over their schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season.

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The team, along with the rest of the league, announced the regular-season slate on Thursday for the coming campaign that — Raptors fans hope — will see the man who led Toronto to the franchise’s lone NBA championship back in the fold.

But while it remains to be seen when the league’s investigation into the ties between Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers and Aspiration — a now-defunct green tech and financial services company allegedly used to pay Kawhi a no-show sponsorship deal — will conclude, at least there’s a calendar to be mapped out.

Who will the Raptors play in the season opener?

For the 14th time in the past 15 seasons — and for the 25th time in franchise history — the Raptors will play their season opener at home, this year hosting the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

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The team then hits the road for its first away game on Friday, Oct. 23, in Washington, where it will take on No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards.

The league announced 80 of each team’s 82-game slate on Thursday, with the remaining two to be set following the conclusion of the group-stage play in the NBA Cup. The Raptors will be in a group featuring Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit and Brooklyn as part of the in-season tournament.

When will SGA, Wemby and LeBron come to Canada?

The Raptors will get an early visit from the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks for a back-to-back set on Nov. 15 and Nov. 17. They’ll later face Victor Wembanyama and the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 16.

Two-time reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — a native of Hamilton — comes to town on Mar. 10.

The new-look Philadelphia 76ers — now featuring LeBron James and former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — will come to Toronto on Jan. 10 and April 6. It remains to be seen if James will be keeping his phone on airplane mode during the trips north of the border.

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But the games that might have the most intrigue — given the circumstances involving the Leonard trade — will come against the Clippers, with the Raptors hitting Los Angeles on Nov. 2 and then hosting the Clips on New Year’s Day.

Toronto’s longest home stand comes early in 2027, when the Raptors will host six games from Jan. 7-15, including visits from the Timberwolves, Jazz, Sixers, Pistons, Suns and Heat.

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The Raptors’ longest trip will see them hit the road for six games in 11 days and travel through Utah, Portland, Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix and Detroit.

The Raptors will play 15 back-to-back sets overall, which is the same number as last season, and will see the most action in January, when they play 17 games.

Toronto’s regular season wraps up on April 11 at home against the Nets.

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