Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups said pregame on Monday that center Deandre Ayton (knee) is not currently with the team and stayed back in Portland to receive "rigorous treatment" for the tendinitis in his right knee. It likely leaves Ayton doubtful to return from a four-game absence on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks. But Ayton should have a chance to join the squad at some point, since the Blazers will remain on the road for six more contests until Jan. 12. Moses Brown has served as the formal starter in Ayton's stead, but it hasn't translated to a meaningful uptick in fantasy value. Jerami Grant and Jabari Walker have shared minutes at the five as well, with the latter being worth a look in deeper leagues. In eight outings without Ayton this year, Walker is contributing 13.5 points on 55.2% field-goal shooting and 7.4 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (groin) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns. According to head coach Chauncey Billups, Sharpe will be on a minute restriction in this game. Fantasy managers depending on Sharpe will want to temper expectations after Billups didn't specify how many minutes he'll be held to, so a backup plan is likely the safest way to go. The two players affected the most by Sharpe's return will be Skylar Mays and Matisse Thybulle, while the starting backcourt of Scoot Henderson and Malcolm Brogdon should see a heavy workload.

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.