New Jersey Nets lead the best-of-seven series 1-0

Jason Kidd registerd 18 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to spark the New Jersey Nets past Boston 104-97 in the opening game of their NBA semi-final series on Sunday.

The Nets host game two of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday, hoping to advance to their first NBA final.

The series winner will face either reigning champions Los Angeles Lakers or regular season champions Sacramento Kings.

Boston stars Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce each scored 27 points, but the Celtics could not overcome solid defensive pressure from the Nets throughout the game.

Nets forward Keith Van Horn said: "It was just team defence.

"We just stepped up and got the stops when we had to and we have to keep it going the rest of the series because they are tough."

Van Horn and Todd MacCullouch, the Canadian centre who helped Philadelphia into last year's NBA finals, each scored 14 points for New Jersey.

The Nets lost three of four regular season games with Boston.

MacCullouch said: "We had to improve our effort against them.

"We had to play better as a team. This is a great start. But it's only one game."