LeBron sets record for wins, Pistons clinch division title
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to guard Bronny James during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Another night, another record for LeBron James. This one: wins.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers — one of James’ former teams — 127-113 on Tuesday night. Adding in both regular-season and playoff games, James has now played in 1,229 wins over his record-setting 23-year career.
That’s one more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career total.
Abdul-Jabbar still has the regular-season wins record. He played in 1,074 of those; James is 29 wins from tying that number. James has the playoff record with 184 wins, or 23 more than Derek Fisher.
The Lakers and Denver both clinched playoff spots on Tuesday night. They join Detroit, Boston, New York, Oklahoma City and San Antonio on the list of teams with playoff spots secured.
Pistons, led by Jalen Duren’s 31 points and nine rebounds, clinch first division title in 18 years
Jalen Duren had 31 points and nine rebounds Tuesday as Detroit defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-116 to clinch the Central Division title. Duren is averaging 23.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in seven games since Cade Cunningham sustained a lung injury on March 17 in Washington.
The Pistons are 6-2 without their star, including a 114-110 overtime loss in Oklahoma City on Monday — a game Duren sat out. Daniss Jenkins scored 21 for the Pistons, who have won seven of nine, and Duncan Robinson added 19 points.
Detroit hadn’t won a division title since 2007-08.
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rested his starters for most of the fourth quarter.
The 30,000th 3-pointer of the season was made Tuesday night. It’s the fifth consecutive year that the NBA has reached 30,000 3s — but it doesn’t seem likely that the full-season record of 33,304 set last season will be reached. The current pace for this season: 32,638.
Minnesota is at Detroit tonight, the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Pistons won the previous matchup 109-87.
Detroit is 30-9 at home, and Minnesota is 21-15 on the road.






