The Los Angeles Lakers staved off a comeback from the New Jersey Nets to claim game one of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

The defending champions led by as much as 23 points in the first half, before the Nets reduced the deficit to three points in the final quarter.

But the Lakers rallied and led by eight points with a little over a minute remaining. The Nets had chances to cut the gap to two points in the closing minute, but missed with three-point shots.

The Lakers, with home court advantage, were guided by 36 points from Shaquille O'Neal and 22 points from Kobe Bryant.

New Jersey guard Jason Kidd admitted that O'Neal had prove the difference between the sides.

"I think the best way to defeat him is to try to figure out what car he's going to drive and put sand or sugar in the gas tank," he said.

"If he makes it to the arena, you're going to be in trouble." said Kidd, who scored 23 points to lead the Nets.

"You're talking about the most dominant player on this planet. If it was 20,000 people here, you could have put them all on the floor and you're still not going to stop that guy."

Nets coach Byron Scott said: "When he wants to get to the basket there's no one in this league that's been able to stop him yet, and there won't be anybody for a long time."

The Nets were slow out of the blocks, but launched a stirring third quarter fightback to get within reach of the Lakers.

Led by Jason Kidd, who scored 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, the Nets were let down by poor free-throw shooting. They converted only 15 of their 26 visits to the line, while the Lakers, aiming for a third successive title, shot 71% of their free-throws.

Underdogs

Kenyon Martin chipped in with 21 points and Todd MacCulloch had 10, but the dynamic Kidd, who became the first person top record a triple-double in the NBA final since 1993, needed more help.

The Lakers led 42-19 in the second quarter and seemed destined to romp to a comfortable win, but by half-time the Nets had closed the gap to 48-36.

The rank outsiders, at 7-to-1 the biggest underdogs in the history of the NBA finals, kept battling, but the Lakers never looked like letting their lead slip.

The second game of the best of seven series is in Los Angeles on Friday.