California, USA : LeBron James became the winningest player in NBA history as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 on Tuesday.
James scored 14 points to register his 1,229th career win — combining regular season and playoffs — surpassing Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time record.
Luka Dončić led the way with 42 points and 12 assists in his return from suspension, helping the Lakers secure their 13th win in 14 games.
Los Angeles (50-26) had already clinched a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title earlier in the night after the Phoenix Suns lost. They sit third in the Western Conference, just ahead of the Denver Nuggets.
James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, added five rebounds and six assists against his former team, with whom he spent 11 seasons across two spells.
Dončić also reached a milestone, becoming the third-youngest player to 15,000 career points.
For Cleveland (47-29), Jarrett Allen scored 18 points, while James Harden had 17 and Donovan Mitchell contributed 10 points and six assists.
The Lakers pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Cleveland 45-30 to take a commanding 110-83 lead. Austin Reaves added 19 points and Deandre Ayton chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds.
It also marked the 100th coaching victory for JJ Redick, as the Lakers continued their strong late-season surge.
