INQUIRER Sports

NEW YORK ? Allen Iverson, recently returned to Philadelphia, could find himself back in the NBA All-Star game as well.

Tracy McGrady, keen to head out of Houston, could be heading to the mid-season exhibition as well.

Iverson jumped into second place among Eastern Conference guards Thursday in the third returns of All-Star fan balloting released by the league.

That puts him in position to make his ninth start. Iverson is more than 155,000 votes ahead of number three Vince Carter or Orlando.

Iverson is listed with the Western Conference guards on the paper ballot, having started the season in Memphis.

But his votes count toward the East since he rejoined his longtime team on December 3.

McGrady edged back in front of the Suns' Steve Nash by 1,005 votes for second among Western guards.

Coming back from knee surgery, he played only six games for the Rockets before they decided he would leave the team while they explored possible trades.

Starters for the February 14 game in Dallas will be announced on January 21.