When the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Houston Rockets tomorrow, they'll do so without LeBron James. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue announced the decision to sit James today. Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon first mentioned the possibility on Sunday.
Tyronn Lue says LeBron James will rest Tuesday against the Rockets.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 28, 2016
With the Cavs last playing on Saturday against the New York Knicks, resting LeBron gives him four days off assuming he returns on Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets. Considering that the Cavs are nearing the end of the season, and only have one big break the rest of the way, this is a good time to get LeBron a longer rest before the playoffs start.
This also fits in with Lue's decision to value rest over the No. 1 seed. As on Monday, the Cavs are 2.5 games up on the Toronto Raptors for the top seed. The Raptors play tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder and, if they win, they would cut the Cavs' lead down to two games.
The Cavs and Rockets tip-off tomorrow at 8 p.m. on TNT. Iman Shumpert and Richard Jefferson are likely the leading candidates to start in James' place at small forward.