Update, 7:08 PM: Despite being downgraded to questionable earlier in the day, Joel Embiid will play when the Sixers take on the Miami Heat on Monday night.

As we’ve learned over the years, the injury report is more of a suggestion for Embiid. Rookie Jared McCain remains in the starting lineup and Kelly Oubre Jr. will continue to come off the bench.

For the Heat, Jimmy Butler returns from a four-game absence with a sprained ankle, while guard Terry Rozier is absent with a foot problem.

Update: 11:21 am: ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Joel Embiid, who was listed as questionable on Sunday night, has been downgraded to doubtful due to an illness.

The Sixers may have had Joel Embiid and Paul George together in their last game, but they still fell to the Magic, 98-86. Even though Jared McCain was great once again, it wasn’t enough to secure a win as the stars struggled. Now the Sixers are 2-10 in second-to-last place in an Eastern Conference that has gotten off to a pretty bad start this season. It’s kind of surprising that there are still only four teams above .500.

Then, after an extra day of rest as they try to work their way into some sort of groove, the Sixers are on the road against the 5-7 Heat, who are on the second night of a back-to-back after losing 119-110 to the Pacers on Sunday.

With a record just under .500, 15th in offensive rating and 17th in defense, the Heat were well and truly average to start the season. Although in today’s East, that’s still enough to rank eighth, and well above Philly.

As for the state of the Sixers, the biggest update besides Tyrese Maxey’s continued absence due to his hamstring injury is that Embiid is now listed as questionable due to illness. Because we clearly didn’t have enough reasons to sell this team too short…

While Embiid is still finding his form, he has always had his way against Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love and the Heat. So that should be a major factor in the Sixers’ favor if Embiid is active.

While the Heat’s frontcourt of Adebayo and Love are healthy, they could be depleted in other areas on Monday. Jaime Jaquez Jr. left Sunday’s game with a sprained right ankle and expects to miss some time. Jimmy Butler was out Sunday with a sprained right ankle, and Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald have reported that while Butler is expected to return Monday against Philly, it is not guaranteed.

Aside from Butler if he returns and some of the Heat’s solid bench pieces, Tyler Herro will be the opponent to watch as he has a hot start to the year. He leads the team with 24.5 points per game and is shooting lights from beyond the arc after increasing his volume, launching 9.5 threes per game and making 45.7 percent. He also didn’t slow down against Indiana this weekend: he scored 28 and hit seven triples.

Honestly, the best thing to watch for the Sixers right now is Jared McCain Watch. The rookie continues to stand out and spark the offense with his improved playmaking, smart drive/pull-up play and versatile three-point shooting. He’s already showing so much impressive skill and poise.

When McCain uses hesitation and footwork, so does his driving, making him difficult to stop when he’s already such a threat from three.

He’s now averaged a whopping 28.3 points on 50.6/43.9/100 shooting splits with 4.5 assists over the past four games. It’ll be fun to see how he picks his position against Herro and Terry Rozier.

McCain could just use a better performance from PG (after that 13-point, 4-of-15 shooting night against Orlando) and hopefully a healthy Embiid to make life easier.

With how weak the East has been, the Sixers are (somewhat understandably) not panicking about their start to the season.

“To be honest, the East isn’t doing that great.” George told reporters after Friday’s loss to Orlando. “So, not to look at it on that note, but I don’t think there’s any panic about how the East is doing. We still have a lot of season left and a lot to improve, and a lot to jump up in the standings once we start playing well. Again, it’s on our side, but the East is not separated. So that gives us time.”

Panic aside, it would still be a good time to turn things up a notch so the team can shoot for something almost on full cylinders when Maxey gets back. Perhaps facing this Heat team, which will be at an energy disadvantage and have to compete against Embiid when he’s available, is a chance to start that.

Game details

WHO: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat
When: 7:30 PM ET
Where: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The fanatic
To follow: @LibertyBallers