Yao leading Shaq in All-Star voting

New York — Yao Ming has more votes than Shaquille O’Neal in fan voting for next month’s NBA All-Star game.

The 7-foot-6 Chinese rookie for the Houston Rockets was fourth overall in the balloting and tops among centers with 814,393 votes. O’Neal was next among centers and 10th overall, at 655,744. Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter are the top vote-getters after two rounds of balloting, the league said Thursday. The fan vote will determine the starters for the Feb. 9 All-Star game in Atlanta.

Voting continues through Jan. 12, and this season marks the first time online balloting is available in Mandarin.

Only four rookie centers have started in an NBA All-Star game since the first in 1951: Ray Felix, Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Bellamy and O’Neal. A total of 15 rookies have started All-Star games, with Grant Hill the most recent in 1995.

Bradley to miss week because of back injury

Toronto — Toronto Raptors forward Michael Bradley will miss a week with a disc injury to his lower back. Bradley averaged 3.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. He is one of only two Raptors to play in all 32 games this season. The Raptors are already missing leading scorer Vince Carter, Lamond Murray, Eric Montross and Mamadou N’diaye because of injuries.

Miami’s Best sidelined because of ankle injury

Miami — Miami Heat point guard Travis Best is expected to miss at least a week with a sprained right ankle, and he might go on the injured list.

If Best is placed on the injured list, he’ll miss at least five games. He has been troubled by his ankle since early in the season and sprained it during Wednesday’s win at Atlanta.

Hornets guard Davis bothered by back

New Orleans — Starting guard Baron Davis will miss the New Orleans Hornets’ game tonight against Orlando because of back spasms.

Davis has been playing with a herniated disk and has had recurring problems with back spasms since the latter part of last season. On Tuesday against Indiana, he left the game in the first quarter.

Suns lose Tsakalidis for six-to-eight weeks

Phoenix — The Phoenix Suns placed Jake Tsakalidis on the injured list Thursday after he underwent microscopic surgery on his lower back earlier in the day. The 7-foot-2 center is expected to be sidelined six-to-eight weeks. Dr. Duane Pitt performed the discectomy to help relieve pain from a bulging disc that had forced Tsakalidis to miss seven games this season.