Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore (ankle) will miss Monday's meeting with the New York Knicks. Whitmore sprained his right ankle following 18 minutes of action in Friday's narrow defeat to the Toronto Raptors, and he'll have one more chance to return prior to the All-Star break when the Rockets clash with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Aaron Holiday has stepped up to serve as Houston's sixth man off the bench in Whitmore's place, most recently averaging 12.7 points on 57.7% shooting from the floor, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 threes in 24.5 minutes covering his past three games, which have all come without Fred VanVleet (adductor) as well. Whitmore and VanVleet's absences keep Holiday in play as a deep-league streamer for points, threes, and dimes, but he'll be a hit-or-miss fantasy option against a stingy Knicks defense.

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (leg) will not return to action for Monday's matchup with the New York Knicks. The Rockets initially had an eye toward Eason returning at some time last week, but they will continue to keep the second-year forward off the court for at least one more game. Houston has one more contest before the All-Star break against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, but fantasy managers should probably expect them to hold Eason out for that one at this point. With Cam Whitmore (ankle) also sidelined on Monday, look for Dillon Brooks to handle plenty of minutes. Brooks has been a top-150 option for most of the campaign, most recently averaging 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.4 three-pointers, and 0.9 steals through his prior 11 games, but he draws a tough assignment against a Knicks squad allowing the third-fewest average points (109.9) in the NBA during 2023-24.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) is still sidelined for Monday's contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Make it 16 consecutive absences for Melton due to a lumbar spine stress response on his back, but head coach Nick Nurse said before Friday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks that there's a "decent chance" Melton returns before the All-Star break. Melton has one more opportunity to suit up this week, coming on Wednesday versus the visiting Miami Heat. Kelly Oubre Jr. is getting plenty of run in Philly's starting lineup in the meantime, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 boards, 1.1 triples, and 0.9 blocks during 34.9 minutes across his last nine games. Cleveland ranks first in the Eastern Conference in defensive efficiency (107.5) this season, so Oubre's fantasy expectations should be tempered on Monday.

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (groin) is still listed as out for Monday's tilt versus the Chicago Bulls. Capela's status is worth noting because he is expected to be re-evaluated with a strained left groin before the All-Star break arrives. With that said, the Swiss big man will have one more shot to suit up this week when the Hawks head to North Carolina to face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Onyeka Okongwu will man the middle in Atlanta's starting five for at least one more game, and he's been a second-round fantasy player in nine-category leagues since Jan. 30. Over his latest seven games, Okongwu is averaging 16.7 points on 70.7% shooting from the field, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 treys and is a set-and-forget play in season-long leagues any time Capela is unavailable.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (ankle) remains out for Monday's game versus the Denver Nuggets. A sprained left ankle sustained early in last Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns will cost Middleton a third contest in a row, and head coach Doc Rivers didn't sound optimistic about the veteran forward's chances of returning before the All-Star break following Friday's blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets. Middleton should be considered doubtful at best when the Bucks host the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Jae Crowder has directly benefitted fantasy-wise from Middleton's absence, averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 three-pointers in 35.6 minutes over his past three appearances, but he'll be a low-end streamer in a tough matchup on Monday against a Nuggets team that's giving up the sixth-fewest points per game (111.0) in the Association this year.