LOS ANGELES - Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers continued to lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, after the league announced on Thursday the fourth results of balloting to determine the starters for the NBA All-Star Game.

Yao Ming

LeBron James

Yao leads all players with 1,775,413 votes for the league's mid-season centerpiece, which will be played in Las Vegas on February 18, even though 7-foot-6 Chinese (2.26m) superstar is recovering from a fractured bone beneath his right knee suffered on December 23.

The Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett leads all Western Conference forwards with 1,068,168 votes, followed by San Antonio's Tim Duncan (1,025,812).

The high scoring duo of Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (1,536,556) and Tracy McGrady of Houston Rockets (1,331,511) lead all Western Conference guards. However, seven-time All-Star guard Allen Iverson (1,300,248) of the Denver Nuggets is just 31,263 votes behind McGrady.

James heads the East with 1,774,281 votes, followed by Dwyane Wade (1,371,850) of the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat.

Chris Bosh is second among Eastern Conference forwards, but is just 63,144 votes ahead of Jermaine O'Neal (621,476) of the Indiana Pacers for a starting spot. The New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter (1,002,709) is second to Wade among Eastern Conference guards.

Miami's Shaquille O'Neal leads all Eastern Conference centres with 1,143,904 votes, followed by the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (978,007).

The balloting program continues through January 21 with the 2007 All-Star starters to be announced four days later.

Following the completion of starting line-ups, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining all-stars in their respective conference, which will be announced on February 1.

2007 NBA All-Star balloting Eastern Conference

Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 1,774,281; Chris Bosh (Tor) 684,620; Jermaine O'Neal (Ind) 621,476; Grant Hill (Orl) 455,018; Paul Pierce (Bos) 442,393; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 358,998; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 316,491; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 252,295; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 236,846; Emeka Okafor (Char) 234,542.

Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,371,850; Vince Carter (NJ) 1,002,709; Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 788,249; Jason Kidd (NJ) 573,104; Stephon Marbury (NY) 383,204; Chauncey Billups (Det) 298,770; Michael Redd (Mil) 233,038; Steve Francis (NY) 201,736; Joe Johnson (Atl) 198,918; Ben Gordon (Chi) 177,866.

Centers: Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 1,143,904; Dwight Howard (Orl) 978,007; Ben Wallace (Chi) 519,871; Alonzo Mourning (Mia) 205,832; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 165,178; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 146,027; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 123,176; Nazr Mohammed (Det) 119,888; Eddy Curry (NY) 113,133; Nenad Krstic (NJ) 92,832.

Western Conference

Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Minn) 1,068,168; Tim Duncan (SA) 1,025,812; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 884,160; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 870,465; Shane Battier (Hou) 640,238; Shawn Marion (Pho) 332,106; Lamar Odom (LAL) 311,845; Josh Howard (Dal) 288,539; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 251,889; Pau Gasol (Mem) 237,828.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,536,556; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,331,511; Allen Iverson (Den) 1,300,248; Steve Nash (Pho) 992,885; Manu Ginobili (SA) 376,185; Tony Parker (SA) 350,257; Chris Paul (NOK) 316,142; Jason Terry (Dal) 306,123; Ray Allen (Sea) 267,253; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 252,254.

Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,775,413; Amare Stoudemire (Pho) 727,298; Erick Dampier (Dal) 283,103; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 232,174; Marcus Camby (Den) 201,177; Francisco Elson (SA) 171,180; Brad Miller (Sac) 109,715; Chris Kaman (LAC) 107,065; Tyson Chandler (NOK) 98,541; Chris Mihm (LAL) 97,636.