Short-handed Cavaliers also lose Tyronn Lue on Saturday, who left vs. Bulls early with an illness

CHICAGO -- Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue left Saturday's game against the Bulls early with an illness, marking the third time this season that his health has kept him from coaching an entire game.

With the Cavs leading the Bulls 69-52 at halftime, Lue remained in the locker room and handed coaching duties to Cleveland associate head coach Larry Drew.

Lue had to exit a loss to the Orlando Magic early on Feb. 6 because he was not feeling well and missed a game Dec. 21 against the Chicago Bulls with an undisclosed illness, needing to stay in the locker room after arriving at the arena and going through his pregame media duties.

The Cavs say that Lue is doubtful to return to the bench for the Chicago game.

Lue, who turns 41 in May, seemed to be in good spirits prior to tipoff after being visited in the hallway outside the Cavs' locker room by former teammate Dennis Rodman.

Health and injury issues have trickled down to the players as well. Only nine healthy players were in uniform for the start of Saturday's game, which marks the end of Cleveland's six-game road trip on Saturday.

Cleveland startedJose Calderon, George Hill, LeBron James, Jeff Green and Ante Zizic.

The Cavs' bench is limited to JR Smith, Jordan Clarkson and two-way players John Holland and London Perrantes, as the roster has been hit with a rash of recent injuries.

Kevin Love (left hand fracture) is expected to return sometime next week. Rodney Hood (lower back strain) is resting again after returning to the lineup to play 19 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers. He missedthe Cavs' previous two games because of his back. Larry Nance Jr. (right hamstring pull) is missing his second straight game. Cedi Osman (left hip flexor) is missing his fourth straight game. Tristan Thompson (right ankle sprain) is missing his sixth straight game.

Kyle Korver is not with the team as he attends to a family member's medical emergency.

"It's been tough," Lue said before the game. "Guys in and out of the lineups, different starting linueps, but I think tonight, it's going to be a challenging game for us tonight also. And I think if we win this game in spite of all of the stuff that's going on and finish the trip 3-3 with all the injuries we've had and different lineups, I think it would be a good trip for us."