CLEVELAND -– Devin Harris treated his Nets' teammates to steak dinner when they got here, a bonding experience they hoped would bring them closer together on and off the court.

It seemed to have worked the way the Nets played against the Cavaliers last night. But with one swing of Harris’ arm, the Nets' best performance maybe in weeks became somewhat of an afterthought.

The Nets lost the game, 99-89, but the bigger story was Harris' ejection after a hard foul and LeBron James' reaction to it. Anything involving James becomes a big deal.

After Harris unintentionally took down Jamario Moon with a shot across his head and neck as he went in for a dunk, James sprinted to defend his teammate. If it had been Mo Williams pinning Harris up against the basket stanchion it wouldn’t have been as big a story. Remember, James is the King.

James also is the Nets' No. 1 priority this summer when free agency begins. It’s doubtful anything that happened last night will sway his decision, but at least the Nets weren’t annihilated like they have been so often lately.

The difference was 10, but it was two-point game with 4:09 left in the third quarter. That’s not a misprint. The Nets, who lost to the Warriors by 16, Pacers by 16 and Hawks by 23 in the past week, were down just two to James and the Cavaliers with about 16 minutes of basketball left.

You kept waiting for the lead to grow to 14, 16, 20 and then the Nets be out of it. But they stayed in it, for the most part, until the end, even after Harris was ejected with 3:48 left.

"The ball moved, we found open guys, guys got to the right spot, we read the defense, and everyone was playing off one another," Harris said. "That’s the kind of effort we need, not just from the second to fourth [quarters], but if you start and finish the game with that kind of movement and understanding of each other [we should be OK]."

Harris could face a suspension for the play on Moon. But you have to believe that because of Harris' reputation and the fact the Nets were in the game, he wouldn’t do something like that on purpose would weigh in his favor.  Moon skies and Harris can’t get up as high so he hit him in the head and sent him crashing to the floor. Everyone involved said it looked worse than it was. The fall made it look worse.

This game is behind them, but the Nets have to take something from it. They have to follow up with this hard-working performance when they host the Jazz, a team that can pick-and-roll them to death. Their zone was effective against the Cavaliers.

James said the Cavaliers never found any rhythm because of a truckload of fouls called in the first half especially. They also took too many jumpers against the Nets’ zone until James started attacking it and slashing to the basket.

He did it after the game got close. It seemed at times the Cavaliers were overlooking the two-win Nets and were surprised at how close it was.

"They’re an NBA team," James said. "It’s not about who plays who better. It’s about who gets the win. We got the win and that’s what it’s all about.

"Every game is its own. You can’t go into a game saying this team only has two wins. That’s when you get bit. You go into a game you just try to play well and you want to win. You win by 20 or win by one. It’s a win."

The Nets may not remember what a win feels like, but more performances like this and they will.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)