"It's Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups vs. the NBA.

Attorneys for the locked-out players filed a 25-page federal anti-trust lawsuit last night in California setting off commissioner David Stern's worst nightmare.

Star lead attorney David Boies ripped Stern last night in the Harlem offices of the disbanded union for "overplaying his hand'' and said he hopes the NBA will come to its senses and he won't have to "litigate this out.''

"There is one reason and one reason only the season is in jeopardy,'' Boies said. "The owners locked out the players.''"