Mobley scores 25, Mitchell adds 21 as Cavaliers rout Raptors 136-106 in season opener

TORONTO (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell had 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Toronto Raptors 136-106 on Wednesday night.

Caris LeVert shot 8 for 9 and scored 19 points, and Jarrett Allen had 14 for the Cavs, whose biggest lead was 33. Cleveland won for the first time in five season-opening meetings with Toronto.

Raptors forward Scottie Barnes shot 3 for 14 and scored nine points in a disappointing season debut.

Toronto’s Chris Boucher scored 18 points off the bench, Gradey Dick added 16 and guard Immanuel Quickley scored 13 points in 14 minutes before exiting because of an injury.

Cavaliers: Mobley shot 9 for 14 to help Cleveland outscore Toronto 68-38 in the paint. Dean Wade started in place of the injured Max Strus (right ankle) and had eight rebounds.

Raptors: Toronto kicked off its 30th NBA season by welcoming former stars Damon Stoudamire, T.J. Ford and Jerome Williams back to town, but didn’t offer much on-court excitement in the season opener. The Raptors made 19 turnovers, leading to 30 points for Cleveland. Many in the sellout crowd of 19,800 left early.

Quickley fell heavily under his own basket when he was fouled in the second quarter. He checked out with 2:24 to go in the first half and did not return. The Raptors said Quickley was ruled out because of a right pelvic contusion.

Cleveland outscored Toronto 20-4 over the final 5:09 of the first half as the Raptors turned the ball over six times. The Cavs had five dunks in that stretch, three of them from Allen. Cleveland led 69-49 at the break.

The Cavaliers play their home opener against Detroit on Friday night. Toronto hosts former coach Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

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Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) drives past Toronto Raptors' Ochai Agbaji (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl (19) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers' Dean Wade (32) as Cavaliers' Ty Jerome (2) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley (4) is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Jonathan Mogbo (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors' Chris Boucher, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Caris LeVert (3) battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes, bottom, passes as Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley (4) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors' Scottie Barnes (4) reacts after being called for a foul against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors' Chris Boucher, left, and Cleveland Cavaliers' Caris LeVert (3) battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell, left, drives as Toronto Raptors' Davion Mitchell (45) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) drives as Toronto Raptors' Gradey Dick (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley (4) dunks as Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl (19) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)