SALT LAKE CITY, March 28 (UPI) -- Karl Malone moved into second place on the all-time field goals list Thursday night as the Utah Jazz never trailed and coasted to a 112-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Malone finished with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. He passed Wilt Chamberlain with his 12,682nd career basket, a short jumper with 5:03 left in the third quarter that put the Jazz up, 77-54.
Malone had left with 1:28 remaining in the first quarter with a groin strain. He returned with 5:59 to go in the first half and Utah closed the second quarter on a 11-5 run to take a 55-43 lead at intermission.
Malone, Utah's first-round pick in 1985, has had a slew of milestones this season. His most recent one came March 19 against Detroit, when he passed Elvin Hayes for second on the all-time minutes list.
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leader in field goals with 15,837.
