Rose, Noah still trailing in All-Star game voting
Some of the biggest names in the NBA — LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Heat and Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo of the Celtics — are on pace to be voted as starters for the NBA All-Star game.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah, however, sit in third place in the fan balloting. Noah, however, it out with a hand injury and may not be ready to play until after the All-Star game.
Rose trails Rondo by about 12,000 votes for the second guard spot among starters.
Garnett and Rondo remained in second place at their positions behind the Heat duo in the third voting returns announced Thursday. Orlando center Dwight Howard is the other leader among Eastern Conference players.
The Lakers' Kobe Bryant is the top overall vote-getter for the game in his home Staples Center on Feb. 20. The Hornets' Chris Paul at the other guard and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Denver's Carmelo Anthony at forward are the other West leaders, while Houston's Yao Ming has a huge lead at center despite being out for the season with a foot injury.
Starters will be announced Jan. 27.
NBA All-Star votes
Here is the voting to date:
Eastern Conference
Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 1,194,091; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 850,687; Amar'e Stoudemire (NYK) 826,628; Paul Pierce (Bos) 465,270; Chris Bosh (Mia) 334,921; Josh Smith (Atl) 225,951; Carlos Boozer (CHI) 222,431; Danilo Gallinari (NYK) 168,519; Danny Granger (Ind) 158,836; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 150,840.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,167,649; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 929,781; Derrick Rose (CHI) 917,753; Ray Allen (Bos) 494,489; John Wall (Was) 212,238; Gilbert Arenas (Orl) 193,056; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 172,076; Raymond Felton (NYK) 144,707; Jamal Crawford (Atl) 123,531, Joe Johnson (Atl) 119,455.
Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,205,159; Shaquille O'Neal (Bos) 506,621; Joakim Noah (CHI) 197,407; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 159,560; Al Horford (Atl) 149,908; Roy Hibbert (Ind) 133,416; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 126,185; Brook Lopez (NJ) 104,784; JaVale McGee (Was) 82,650; Ben Wallace (Det) 61,051.
Western Conference
Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 945,944; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 742,284; Pau Gasol (LAL) 702,859; Tim Duncan (SA) 551,226; Blake Griffin (LAC) 540,701; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 518,682; Lamar Odom (LAL) 285,667; Luis Scola (Hou) 258,407; Kevin Love (Min) 233,273; Caron Butler (Dal) 186,626.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,391,597; Chris Paul (NOH) 724,605; Manu Ginobili (SA) 504,123; Steve Nash (Pho) 397,975; Deron Williams (Utah) 384,515; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 327,453; Tony Parker (SA) 298,771; Jason Kidd (Dal) 260,569; Vince Carter (Pho) 228,698; Eric Gordon (LAC) 190,636.
Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 754,583; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 493,237; Nene (Den) 292,829; Marc Gasol 263,000; Brendan Haywood (Dal) 245,737; Emeka Okafor (NOH) 227,621; Chris Kaman (LAC) 148,389; Marcus Camby (Por) 148,322; Andris Biedrins (GS) 91,600; Robin Lopez (Pho) 81,148.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.