NBA: LeBron James sets all-time win mark in Lakers' victory over Cavaliers

Luka Doncic scored 42 points and dished out 12 assists, while LeBron James added 14 points, helping the Los Angeles Lakers secure a 127-113 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

The Lakers (50-26) have now won 13 of their last 14 games, clinching a playoff spot and the Pacific Division title earlier in the evening after the Phoenix Suns’ loss. Los Angeles sits third in the Western Conference, two games ahead of the Denver Nuggets.

James made history by surpassing Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined regular-season and playoff wins. He also contributed five rebounds and six assists against the Cavaliers, the team he spent 11 seasons with across two stints.

Returning from a one-game suspension for his 16th technical foul, MVP candidate Doncic became the third-youngest player to reach 15,000 career points at 27 years and 31 days old. James remains the youngest to reach the milestone at 25 years, 79 days.

For Cleveland (47-29), Jarrett Allen led with 18 points. James Harden scored 17 points, and Donovan Mitchell added 10 points and six assists. The Cavaliers, whose magic number to secure a playoff spot is one, have won six of their last eight games and are 16-6 with Harden in the lineup.

Deandre Ayton scored 18 points with nine rebounds, and Austin Reaves added 19 points for the Lakers. Los Angeles broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Cleveland 45-30 to take a 110-83 lead. The win marked the 100th career victory for coach JJ Redick.

The Lakers led 65-53 at halftime, powered by 20 points and seven assists from Doncic and 11 points with six rebounds from Ayton. Allen scored 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting for Cleveland, while Mitchell managed just two points.

Doncic quickly found his rhythm, scoring 14 points in the first quarter alone while taking 10 shots. Cleveland briefly held a 34-32 lead, led by nine points from Harden and eight points with three rebounds from Allen.

Los Angeles guard Marcus Smart missed his fourth straight game with a right ankle bruise. The Cavaliers were without swingman Sam Merrill (left hamstring), while forwards Jaylon Tyson (left toe) and Dean Wade (right ankle) did not travel on the team’s three-game road trip.

—Field Level Media/Reuters