LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James celebrates from the sideline after a score against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) ORG XMIT: OAS106

(Ben Margot)

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Cleveland Cavaliers were neck and neck with arguably the best team in the NBA until the Golden State Warriors took command down the stretch to win 112-94 on Friday night in front of a national audience.

The final outcome is misleading. Cleveland played much of the game as Golden State's equal, and it very well could be down the road. New additions in Timofey Mozgov and J.R. Smith provided a couple of dynamics the Cavaliers have been pursuing all season long: size in the middle and consistent scoring off the bench.

Smith registered a game-high 27 points on 11-of-23 from the field in only his second game as a Cavalier. Head coach David Blatt started the prolific scorer to add an extra perimeter threat capable of creating his own shot alongside Kyrie Irving.

That backcourt duo almost got it done. If it wasn't for the solidarity and experience the Warriors have, the Cavaliers could have stolen one at Oracle Arena. Smith and Irving complemented each other well.

The 2013 Sixth Man of the Year recipient is accustomed to playing with great scorers. He shared the ball with Carmelo Anthony for the majority of his 10-year career, and some success arose from their tandem.

But Anthony is no LeBron James, who is a few games away from returning to action.

After Friday's hard-fought loss, Smith and a few players were asked if they were pleased with the fight they put up against one of the top teams in the league despite being shorthanded. They all agreed it was an encouraging sign. When Northeast Ohio Media Group spoke to Smith by himself about what it would be like to share the court with James, Smith paused about five seconds.

He had no clue.

"Yeah, I've thought about it, but it's kind of hard to envision because playing with a person like 'Bron, it's tough to think about something like that when you've never played with somebody like that before," Smith said.

"It's different when you've had 'Melo and you're used to him scoring 30, 40 or 50, but with a guy like 'Bron who does everything like run the floor and what he sees out on the court, it's going to be totally different. I can envision it a little, but I'm sure it's going to be something on another level."

Smith has worked out with James in Akron over past summers, but being a teammate will be a different experience. He'll have an adjustment unlike any other he has made in his career.

Kevin Love and Irving command touches too. Smith will have to find his shots in the confines of the offensive system without disrupting the team flow.

"With me, it's just being patient," he said. "Between the three of those guys, my looks are going to get shorter and shorter and shorter, so I just have to be patient and wait my turn. And when it's my turn to rise, just go out there and play."

Blatt loved what he saw from Smith Friday. He said he had a good feeling going into the game. Even though it was the team's fourth consecutive loss and eighth in the last 10, Blatt sees the improvement.

"Very much so," he said. "I think you saw it. I think you see we're a better team today than we were yesterday and than we were a week ago. I'm not even going to talk about the guys that aren't playing because we're a better team today already."

James (knee and back pain), Iman Shumpert (shoulder injury) and Shawn Marion (left hip strain) sat out, but are on the mend. This roster is equipped with the necessary ingredients to cook up a mean dish.

Once James and company return, the team's thinking is dinner will be served.

"I feel like we have the pieces when Iman and 'Bron get back and [Ma]Trix (Marion) is healthy that we'll be able to put this all together," Love said. "We just have to continue to fight, continue to keep pushing."