The Sports Xchange
Oct 19, 2017
TORONTO -- Jonas Valanciunas scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, C.J. Miles added 22 points off the bench, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Chicago Bulls in 117-101 Thursday night in the opening game of the season for each team.
The Raptors are 14-9 in season openers, 11-6 when they open at home.
Norman Powell added 15 points for the Raptors, while Kyle Lowry scored 12 points and had nine assists. Delon Wright added 13 points with DeMar DeRozan contributing 11.
Robin Lopez scored 18 points and nabbed eight rebounds for the Bulls. Rookie Lauri Markkanen had 17 points and eight rebounds, Justin Holiday added 15 points, and Denzel Valentine scored 12.
The Raptors, who led by as many as 27 points in the second quarter, took a 58-37 lead into the second half and still led by 20 points after three quarters.
The Bulls got to within 15 points early in the fourth quarter before the Raptors increased the lead to 24 points with 4:58 to play on three free throws by Lowry.
Toronto led 25-23 after the first quarter led by 10 points from Powell.
Miles made a 3-pointer with 7:09 to play in the second quarter to put the Raptors ahead 45-25.
Powell's 3-pointer stretched the lead to 27 points with 2:12 to play in the first half.
The Raptors led 58-37 after the first half. Powell had 15 points, Miles 14 and Valanciunas added 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half for Toronto.
Lopez led Chicago with 12 first-half points.
The Bulls trimmed the Raptors' lead to 17 when Markkanen made three free throws with 7:43 to play in the third quarter. Jerian Grant's layup whittled the lead to 14.
Toronto led 84-64 after the third quarter.
NOTES: Chicago F Bobby Portis did not play as he started an eight-game suspension imposed by the team for punching teammate F Nikola Mirotic during practice Tuesday. Mirotic (concussion, facial fractures) will be out from four to six weeks because of the injuries resulting from the punch. Lauri Markkanen started at the power forward position Thursday. ... Toronto won its final two exhibition games to finish with a 3-2 preseason record. Chicago finished the preseason with a 3-3 record. ... The Bulls won the season series last season 2-1 over the Raptors. ... The Raptors will remain home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, while the Bulls will host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.