Devin Booker slips in third NBA All-Star Game fan vote returns

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has brought in a steady stream of fan votes as an NBA All-Star candidate, but he took a minor hit in the last tally before voting closes Monday.

Booker fell from ninth place to 10th among Western Conference guards in the third returns released on Thursday as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul jumped him over the past week.

In the second returns of the fan voting, Booker led Paul with 310,944 votes to 306,808. Booker now trails Paul, 419,410 to 405,432.

While Booker missing three games from Jan. 8-12 might have something to do with the slip, Paul took the lead despite missing his last 13 games dating back to Dec. 20. Fair or not, the latest results don’t matter much for Booker.

The fan vote accounts for 50 percent of the total, with coaches and players voting accounting for 25 percent each. Phoenix’s 22-year-old star will have to make headway in that regard if he’s to make an All-Star roster.

Voting closes on Monday before the starters, along with two team captains, are revealed a week from Thursday. A week later, on Jan. 31, the reserves will be announced.

The two captains will draft their teams in a live TNT show at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7, the NBA announced. That will come the same day and hours after the NBA trade deadline.

Booker is averaging 24.3 points, 6.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent and 32 percent from three.

Due to hamstring and back injuries, the fourth-year shooting guard has played in 32 of Phoenix’s 45 games.

Below are the latest voting tallies for the All-Star candidates.

NBA All-Star voting, second returns

Eastern Conference

Frontcourt

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 3,626,909

2. Kawhi Leonard (TOR) 2,882,227

3. Joel Embiid (PHI) 2,292,511

4. Jayson Tatum (BOS) 826,177

5. Jimmy Butler (PHI) 740,778

6. Blake Griffin (DET) 677,472

7. Vince Carter (ATL) 423,795

8. Pascal Siakam (TOR) 338,716

9. Gordon Hayward (BOS) 336,476

10. Al Horford (BOS) 291,722

Guards

1. Kyrie Irving (BOS) 3,187,015

2. Dwyane Wade (MIA) 1,738,043

3. Kemba Walker (CHA) 1,156,040

4. Ben Simmons (PHI) 941,368

5. Victor Oladipo (IND) 778,983

6. Kyle Lowry (TOR) 708,071

7. Zach LaVine (CHI) 440,568

8. Jeremy Lin (ATL) 341,024

9. Goran Dragić (MIA) 335,899

10. Bradley Beal (WAS) 251,170

Western Conference

Frontcourt

1. LeBron James (LAL) 3,770,807

2. Luka Dončić (DAL) 3,301,825

3. Paul George (OKC) 2,583,342

4. Kevin Durant (GSW) 2,432,134

5. Anthony Davis (NOP) 2,091,770

6. Steven Adams (OKC) 1,483,223

7. Nikola Jokić (DEN) 1,128,766

8. Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 899,237

9. Draymond Green (GSW) 660,276

10. DeMarcus Cousins (GSW) 450,480

Guards

1. Stephen Curry (GSW) 2,979,080

2. Derrick Rose (MIN) 2,712,938

3. James Harden (HOU) 2,315,093

4. Russell Westbrook (OKC) 2,090,432

5. Klay Thompson (GSW) 1,120,675

6. Damian Lillard (POR) 851,125

7. DeMar DeRozan (SAS) 850,415

8. Lonzo Ball (LAL) 764,892

9. Chris Paul (HOU) 419,410

10. Devin Booker (PHO) 405,432

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