Sixers-Heat 5 Things: Time for the Sixers to Start a Streak of Their Own?

The Sixers (19-34) host the Miami Heat (24-30) at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m./CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).

Let's take a closer look at the matchup:

1. Stringing wins together
Not all win streaks are created equal, but you've got to start somewhere.

The Sixers will be looking for their second straight victory on Saturday night. That's after Dario Saric led the way with a career-high 24 points and T.J. McConnell pulled off some more late-game heroics to capture a 112-111 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The win snapped the Sixers' five-game skid.

"This was just a great team win for us," McConnell said. "I think the games we lost, we sort of stopped fighting, and tonight we could easily have given up, but we fought and fought and got a good team win on the road."

Meanwhile, the Heat have a bit of a streak going on right now. Miami will be seeking its 14th consecutive victory on Saturday after rallying for a 108-99 win over the lowly Brooklyn Nets one night earlier. 

The Heat's 13-game win streak is the longest in the NBA this season.

2. Super Dario
The Sixers would still be winless in the month of February if it weren't for Saric.

The rookie forward shook off a rough start against the Magic to score those career-high 24 points. He also added eight rebounds and three steals in the game.

"Sometimes games gives you open three-point shots, open layups and nothing goes in and then, all the sudden, you make a couple and everything goes your way," Saric said. "Games change very quickly and that is what happened for me tonight."

The strong performance just continued what has been a solid start to the month for Saric. He is averaging 14.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in February, which has put him in the early Rookie of the Month conversation (see story).

Saric will be looking for some redemption against the Heat after putting up just four points on 1 for 9 shooting during the Sixers' 125-102 loss in Miami last Saturday.

3. Getting walloped by Whiteside
Even with all the factors that go into an NBA game, this matchup will likely come down to whether the Sixers can slow down Hassan Whiteside. 

So far this season, they haven't been able to contain the center at all. With Joel Embiid sidelined a week ago, Whiteside plastered the Sixers for 30 points (14 of 17 shooting) and 20 rebounds in 27 minutes of action. With Embiid in the lineup back on Nov. 22, Whiteside lit up the Sixers for 32 points (13 for 19 shooting) and 13 boards.

Whiteside was limited to eight points and nine rebounds by center Brook Lopez and the Nets. Perhaps Whiteside is starting to cool off ... or he was just conserving his energy to cap off the back-to-back set with another dominant showing against the Sixers. We'll find out.

4. Injuries
Richaun Holmes (upper-respiratory infection) is probable. Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (foot) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) are out for the Sixers.

Dion Waiters (ankle) and Josh Richardson (ankle) are game-time decisions. Josh McRoberts (foot), Justise Winslow (shoulder) and Chris Bosh (calf) are out for the Heat.

5. This and that
• The Sixers have lost six of their last seven games against the Heat.

• The Heat, who are one game back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, have the longest win streak by a team that has been under .500 throughout the streak.

• The Sixers have been outrebounded in nine straight games.