WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Yao Ming had 2,153,039 votes while Shaquille O'Neal got 2,099,201 in the race for the No. 1 overall spot in the final days of NBA All-Star balloting.

    With voting closing on Sunday, Houston Rockets center Yao is leading the Miami Heat's O'Neal, who topped the Eastern Conference,by more than 50,000 votes, by Thursday.

    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.

    Minnesota's Kevin Garnett 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.

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