CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Tyronn Lue is taking a leave of absence to address health issues that have included chest pains and loss of sleep.

Lue said Monday in a statement that tests have offered conclusion about what the issue is and offered no timetable for his return. Lue said he feels he needs to step away “and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation” to coach the rest of the season.

“While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team. I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season,” Lue said. “My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the championship we are all working toward.”

Associate head coach Larry Drew will run the team. Drew said he received a text message from Lue at 1:30 a.m. saying, “It’s your show.”

LeBron James said he was told of Lue’s decision at morning shootaround, saying it was “probably well overdue.”

PELICANS: Rookie guard Frank Jackson won’t make his NBA debut this season after having follow-up surgery to remove residual scar tissue from earlier right foot operations.

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MONDAY’S GAMES

CAVALIERS 124, BUCKS 117: LeBron James scored 40 points as part of his third triple-double in four games as Cleveland won at home.

James scored 17 points in the third quarter, and finished with 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 16th triple-double this season and 71st of his career.

Milwaukee cut a 17-point lead to 117-109, but James drove the length of the floor for a dunk with just over a minute left.

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love returned after missing six weeks because of a broken left hand and scored 18 points in 25 minutes. He sparked a 10-0 run in the second quarter with two 3-pointers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and went 11 of 11 at the foul line for Milwaukee, which is seventh in the Eastern Conference. Khris Middleton had 30 points.

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76ERS 108, HORNETS 94: Joel Embiid had 25 points and 19 rebounds, and Ben Simmons added a triple-double to lead Philadelphia at home.

Simmons had 11 points, 12 rebounds and 15 assists to help the Sixers keep alive their shot at finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference and earning home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

PACERS 110, LAKERS 100: Victor Oladipo sparked a decisive run and finished with 20 points, Myles Turner had 21 points and Indiana recovered from a poor start at Indianapolis.

The victory snapped Indiana’s two-game losing streak.

NETS 118, GRIZZLIES 115: Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert each scored 22 points, and Brooklyn won at New York.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and DeMarre Carroll scored 18 points for the Nets, who have two straight wins for the first time since Jan. 19-21.

KNICKS 110, BULLS 92: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points and Michael Beasley added 17 as New York won at home.

Enes Kanter had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Troy Williams added 11 points for the Knicks.


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