Celtics' Garnett remains atop All-Star Game balloting

The 57th NBA All-Star Game - the league's mid-season centrepiece - will be played in New Orleans on Sunday, February 17.

 Garnett leads all players with 1,527,963 votes. The 10-time All-Star selection is joined at the other Eastern Conference forward spot by Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James with 1,294,019 - the second highest total.

 The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (1,260,987 votes) leads at centre while the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (1,019,582) and the New Jersey Nets' Jason Kidd (743,683) hold down the guard spots.

 Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers leads the Western Conference stars with 1,234,111 votes. The reigning two-time league scoring champ is joined at the guard by Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets with 809,395 votes.

 San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan passed Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony (1,029,335) to claim the top spot among the conference's forwards with 1,049,641 votes. Meanwhile, China's Yao Ming of the Rockets leads the centres with 1,077,244 votes.

 The worldwide balloting will continue through January 20, leading up to the announcement of the Eastern and Western Conference All-Stars, four days later. The remaining squad will be chosen by head coaches in their respective conferences and to be announced on Thursday, January 31.