ORLANDO — It is a lineup combination that certainly should work on the defensive end — it hasn’t.

It is a pairing that both players want to see succeed — it hasn’t.

It is an area where coach Erik Spoelstra has preached patience — patience that tends to quickly wear thin.

Based on the rawest, most basic of statistics, Kel’el Ware starting alongside Bam Adebayo in the Miami Heat’s power rotation has had a degree of success, with the Heat carrying a 6-4 record with two starring together heading into Tuesday night’s NBA Cup game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center.

But a deeper dive and . . . ugh.

In the 123 minutes that Ware played alongside Adebayo going into Tuesday night, the Heat had been outscored by 12.5 points per 100 possessions. The only Heat teammate that Ware went into Tuesday with a worse net rating alongside is Kasparas Jakucionis, who went into Tuesday night having played a grand total of one minute this season.

So, no, Ware-Adebayo not good.

At least not yet.

“Defensively,” Spoelstra said, “I see it as a pairing that could really be good defensively, to cover ground, rebound really well, protect the rim really well.

“And so far it hasn’t necessarily been that.”

Nor has it been compensated for on the other end, or even necessarily fit the Heat quick-twitch, fast-paced offense.

“Offensively,” Spoelstra said, “I’m willing to work through it, because it changes some of the driving angles. But I’m willing as long as it defends at a high level.”

The reluctance by Spoelstra to stick with Ware-Adebayo has been tangible.

Entering Tuesday night, Ware had played more minutes alongside five other teammates than the 123 alongside Adebayo, including 365 alongside Davion Mitchell, 316 alongside Norman Powell, 308 alongside Jaime Jaquez Jr., 306 alongside Andrew Wiggins and 301 alongside Pelle Larsson.

For his part, Adebayo wants it to work, having stressed a preference of not having to lock up defensively against the league’s biggest and bulkiest big men, matchups that often mean not being able to play more of his preferred switching style.

“I haven’t really looked at the numbers,” Adebayo said, “Obviously, like I said before, when we’re playing together, we need to take it personal that Spo wants to switch the lineup, that two-big lineup.

“But we’ll do our homework, we’ll get into the film and we’ll get better.”

Actually, if Spoelstra had his way, he simply would utilize a pair of Adebayos, just as he wishes he could square the tenacity of Mitchell.

“Bam is really the guy that anchors everything for us defensively,” Spoelstra said. “I’ve said it to the team: We would be an incredible defensive team if Bam could defend the pick and roll with the fives, but if he could also be on the weak side, being the weak-side defender at the same time.

“I don’t think that’s possible, to split him and have him guard two areas at once. We would also be really good if Davion could guard the ball and then also guard who they bring up on a switch. So I’m trying to figure out how to make those things happen.”

Wishful thinking aside, for now it’s workshopping the possibilities with Ware and Adebayo.

“We’ve got to continue to work on that,” Spoelstra said. “I just want to see that group when we play bigger, just for it to be a plus. So, we have some work to do there.

“Should be a very good defensive group, but that’s a group that hasn’t been able to defend so far and we’ve got to continue to work at that.”

So, so much for the record when the two start together. For Spoelstra, it’s about tangible numbers, including a Ware-Adebayo net rating that has left much to desire.

“It’s about, ultimately, the scoreboard,” Spoelstra said.