After a productive run with the Heat, rookie Kel'el Ware is beginning to showcase why the organization selected him with the 15th pick in the draft.

That’s because Heat coach Erik Spoelstra played three-time NBA All-Star center Bam Adebayo and rookie center Kel’el Ware together for an extended stretch for the first time during Sunday’s 128-107 home win over the San Antonio Spurs ... and the double-big combination looked better than anybody could have imagined.

To continue on with the lineup change, Spoelstra would trot out Ware to start the second half along with Adebayo, Butler, Robinson, and Herro. It led to nothing but exceptional play from Miami as when Ware eventually was subbed out by Nikola Jovic, the Heat outscored the Spurs 36-13 when the rookie big-man and Adebayo were on the floor together.

Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware offer initial dual Miami Heat intrigue. Now the question is how much more and if there will be a permanence.

Kel'el Ware has gotten much more playing time for the Miami Heat, and his excellent play has led to his first berth in the Kia Rookie Ladder.

MIAMI—Though the Miami Heat lost to the Portland Trail Blazers devastatingly on Tuesday night, 116-107, the one bright spot came from rookie Kel’el Ware. The long-awaited duo of the Heat’s first-round pick and Bam Adebayo is coming off a game in which they excelled against the Spurs.