A sampling of voters for the NBA's postseason awards indicates Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest will be named Defensive Player of the Year.

Votes are not due until Thursday, but a poll of 24 voters showed Artest as the first choice on 19 ballots. A total of 127 media members vote on the award.

Artest was runner-up last season to Detroit's Ben Wallace.

He would become the first Pacer to receive the award.

Artest appears likely to be the only Pacers player to win a major performance award.

Al Harrington is in contention for Sixth Man of the Year honors but ranks behind Dallas forward Antawn Jamison in the early balloting.

Jermaine O'Neal has received mention in the voting for Most Valuable Player, but Minnesota's Kevin Garnett appears to be the winner. O'Neal, a third-team all-NBA selection the past two seasons, appears to be a second-team selection this year.

Rick Carlisle, who was voted Coach of the Year two years ago, has received votes for the award again, but Utah's Jerry Sloan and Hubie Brown of Memphis are the leading contenders.