Sixers-Heat 5 things: Embiid squares off against Whiteside

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Updated: 5:28 p.m.

The Sixers (3-10) will attempt to continue their winning ways at home when they host the Miami Heat (4-8) at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday night (7 p.m./CSN and CSNPhilly.com).

Let's take a closer look at the matchup:

1. Taking center stage
You don't get battles like this too often anymore in today's NBA, but centers Joel Embiid and Hassan Whiteside actually will be at the forefront of Monday's game.

Embiid is coming off arguably the best performance of his brief playing career. He had a personal-best 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting in addition to seven rebounds and two blocks in Saturday's win over the Suns.

For the season, Embiid is averaging 18.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 22.0 minutes per game. He's also shooting 48.6 percent from the field and a healthy 50.0 percent from three-point range. Embiid did suffer a mild ankle sprain against the Timberwolves last Thursday but is listed as probable.

Whiteside has been putting up some impressive numbers of his own. After signing a $98 million deal in the offseason, Whiteside has come back stronger than ever by averaging 17.7 points, 16.2 boards and 2.8 blocks in 33.3 minutes a night.

The battle on the low block should be intriguing and one that will help the progression of both big men.

2. Too much sauce
Who saw this coming?

Following a second straight disappointing season to start his career, Nik Stauskas didn't look like he would ever live up to being the No. 8 pick in the 2014 draft.

It's certainly still too early make that call, but the tide seemingly has turned this season.

Stauskas scored a season-high 21 points off the bench against the Suns on 8 for 9 shooting from the field (5 of 6 from three).

That was just the latest of a string of strong efforts in the rebirth of "Sauce Castillo." He is recording career highs across the board offensively so far this season with 10.2 points, 55.3 field goal percentage and 45.7 three-point percentage.

“We're seeing a skill package that everybody talked about when he came out of college,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said. “You're seeing a lottery pick play. I'm personally happy for him because he cares sometimes too much and he's so self-conscious at times and extremely prideful and he's being rewarded for the work he has put in.”

3. Deep thinkers
Both the Sixers and Heat are middle of the pack when it comes to three-point shooting. The Sixers rank 14th in the NBA at 35.1 percent while the Heat are 15th with 35.0 percent.

However, both teams caught fire from beyond the arc their last time on the court. The Sixers matched a franchise-record with 17 threes on 35 attempts in their win over the Suns. Miami connected on a season-high 13 treys on 27 tries in a road win over the Wizards on Saturday.

Look for both teams to see if they can stay hot from beyond the arc Monday night.

4. Injuries
Ben Simmons (foot) and Nerlens Noel (knee) are out for the Sixers.

Jerryd Bayless (wrist) is now probable to play and make his Sixers debut.

Justise Winslow (wrist) is a game-time decision. Willie Reed (knee) and Wayne Ellington (quadriceps) are out for the Heat.

5. This and that
• The Sixers lost all three meetings with the Heat last season.

• The Sixers rank 30th in the league in opponents' fast-break points per game with 20.2 while the Heat are second with just 9.3.

• Philly native Dion Waiters has averaged 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 10 career games against his hometown team.

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