INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James missed Saturday's game against the Chicago Bulls with an illness.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said after the game, a 117-99 win for the Bulls, that James has strep throat.
"I knew what it was" before the game, Lue said. "He was sick."
Asked if the diagnosis could keep James out longer than just Saturday's game, Lue deferred.
"I don't know," he said. "You ever had it before? How long were you out?"
James, who missed his fourth game this season, was excused from reporting to Quicken Loans Arena. He did not participate in Cleveland's shootaround Saturday morning.
Richard Jefferson started in James' place.
Cleveland is 4-19 without James since he returned to the Cavs in the summer of 2014.
Lue said he planned to start working in rest for his star players in March, but he wanted to finish February strong in order to protect his team's lead over the Boston Celtics for first place in the Eastern Conference.