NEW YORK - National Basketball Association (NBA) owners have launched a "pre-emptive strike" by commencing legal action they hope will end the labor dispute, an anti-trust lawyer said.

With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement stalled, the NBA this week launched an anti-trust lawsuit against itself, asking the US Second District Court to decide if the lockout was legal under anti-trust laws.

The players' lawyers responded by asking the court to throw out the case because the union has yet to decertify and bring any action against owners.