Yao leads Shaq in NBA All-Star balloting
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-21 08:46

Yao Ming leads Shaquille O'Neal by more than 50,000 votes in the race for the No. 1 overall spot in the final days of NBA All-Star balloting.

China's giant centre Yao Ming, seen here in 2004, continues to lead the balloting for the National Basketball Association all-star game, receiving 2,153,039 votes in the fourth returns announced. [AFP]

With voting closing Sunday, Houston Rockets center Yao had 2,153,039 votes to lead the Western Conference, while the Miami Heat's O'Neal topped the Eastern Conference with 2,099,201.

The closest race for a starting spot through Thursday was for the second forward spot in the East. New Jersey's Vince Carter had 1,505,169 votes, followed by Orlando's Grant Hill with 1,273,846 and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal with 1,167,698.

The All-Star starters will be announced Feb. 3. The game is Feb. 20 in Denver.

Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, the reigning league MVP, is third overall, leading West forwards with 1,755,124 votes, followed by San Antonio's Tim Duncan (1,446,824).

Yao's teammate Tracy McGrady leads West guards with 1,688,159 votes, and Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant is next with 1,551,177.

In the East, Cleveland's LeBron James (1,351,369) edged back ahead of Philadelphia's Allen Iverson (1,341,824) among guards.

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