Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan says guard Zach LaVine (foot) will not travel with the team on their current two-game road trip, ruling him out until at least Friday versus the Charlotte Hornets. LaVine was ramping up as of last week as he works his way back from right foot irritation that's kept him on the shelf since Nov. 30. All fantasy managers can do is remain patient with the 28-year-old All-Star, who was netting 21.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 triples per game before the Bulls had to shut him down. Chicago has prevented their season from derailing in the meantime, but it remains to be seen if LaVine will remain in the Windy City after February's trade deadline. With Nikola Vucevic (groin) also unavailable for at least the next two nights, DeMar DeRozan and Coby White will be tasked with the heavy lifting offensively. Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams will also continue taking on extended run.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (illness) won't be available for his third straight game during Monday's meeting with the Phoenix Suns due to an illness. In his first season without sharing the backcourt alongside superstar Damian Lillard, Simons has been sensational when healthy for 11 games this year. The 24-year-old sharpshooting combo guard is dispensing third-round fantasy value in nine-category leagues with averages of 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, 3.8 threes, and 92.3% free-throw shooting on 4.7 attempts. Simons hopes to overcome whatever is ailing him by Wednesday for a date with the Dallas Mavericks, when the Blazers play the second game of what figures to be a taxing seven-game road trip. Portland's offense will run through Jerami Grant, Malcolm Brogdon, and Scoot Henderson on Monday.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (knee) will miss his fourth consecutive game on Monday versus the Phoenix Suns as he continues to nurse tendinitis in his right knee. As a result, Ayton sits out on an opportunity to play against the team that traded him away this past fall. The double-double machine is putting up 13.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game during his first year in Rip City and hopes to return when Portland continue an arduous seven-game road trip on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks. With Duop Reath (back) doubtful on Monday, the bulk of the center minutes will be left to Jerami Grant and Jabari Walker, the latter of whom came out of nowhere for 25 points and nine boards on Friday. Former Blazer Jusuf Nurkic could enjoy a New Year's Day feast with Portland significantly lacking size.

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (illness) is questionable for Monday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets. He's under the weather, so he may join Gordon Hayward (calf) and LaMelo Ball (ankle) on the shelf for the meeting against the defending champs. If that's the case, Ish Smith, Cody Martin, and Nick Smith Jr. could see more action. However, Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, and Brandon Miller would be the favorites to lead things offensively without Rozier on the floor.

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (oblique) remains out on Monday against the visiting Detroit Pistons. The 27-year-old is battling an oblique strain, so he'll now miss his third consecutive contest. He'll likely miss more time moving ahead, although head coach Ime Udoka couldn't say how long he'd stay on the shelf. Brooks has averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his first season in Houston. However, he's shooting a career-high 40.8% from behind the arc. But until Brooks is healthy, Jae'Sean Tate could remain in the lineup. Unfortunately, Tate has averaged just 5.5 points in two starts this year, which won't do anything to benefit fantasy managers.