Shaq comes up big, gives Lakers 2-0 series lead

LOS ANGELES -- Shaq 2, Nets 0.

In another display of his massive superiority, Shaquille O'Neal had such a great game that even his free throw shooting was stunning.

Scoring 40 points, making several pretty passes and doing just about nothing wrong, O'Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-83 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.

The Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals, toying with their opponents while never trailing. Los Angeles led by as many as 20 points, let the Nets creep back within six early in the fourth and then quickly ended any comeback thoughts New Jersey might have had.

New Jersey stuck with single-coverage against O'Neal in the first half, then finally went to double- and triple-teams in the second half. But no matter what wrinkles they threw at O'Neal, there was no stopping the NBA's most unstoppable force.

The 7-foot, 350-pound center had six dunks to go along with an array of short jumpers and bank shots as he finished just six points shy of his career playoff-high.

Kobe Bryant added a quiet 24 points and Derek Fisher had 12 for the Lakers, who can win their third consecutive championship and give coach Phil Jackson his ninth title in 12 years by winning just two more games.