Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is slated to rejoin the team for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Lue won’t coach in tonight’s game, but will be present with the team, consistent with his week-to-week plan to reincorporate himself into his regular spot over a four-game home stand.
Lue had vacated his seat to assistant Larry Drew in light of symptoms he had been fighting through the whole season, ultimately choosing to step away from the team to deal with his own health.
The soon-to-be 41-year-old has been using a chef to improve his diet and has been on a steady exercise plan. He had been dealing with some chest pains and other serious symptoms — including coughing up blood and loss of sleep for the majority of the season.
The Cavs have regained their shape and have won seven of their last 10 games after faltering through the latter stretch of the season due to multiple injuries and a lack of stability within the lineup.
With only a half game of separation with the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers, the Cavs have to tread carefully through these last seven games of the season, with a pivotal matchup with what’s set up to be a Joel Embiid-less Philly team on Apr. 6 — their third-to-last game of the season.
Lue’s coaching and continuity should help the team glue once again, expected to get re-acquainted with his own coaching duties through the next week, as they face some pivotal matchups against the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards next week.