Die Macht » the fourth quarter, but still lost the ga

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers wont know until Saturday night whether point guard George Hill will start in Game 6 against New York. Hill participated in the teams morning shootaround, which is part of the process of passing his concussion test. But doctors had not yet cleared Hill to play. "He just did some work today. He looked fine, but he has to do more tests this afternoon," coach Frank Vogel said. "Theres a long list of things thats part of the NBAs protocol. Hes in the middle of that process. Hes not ruled out, not cleared to play. Hes a game-time decision." Vogel said he was preparing to play without Hill. Hill scored 26 points Tuesday night in Game 4 after a first-quarter collision with Knicks centre Tyson Chandler. Two days later, after the teams shootaround, Hill was still complaining of headaches. Team doctors then diagnosed him with a concussion, forcing him to sit out Game 5. His replacement, D.J. Augustin, played nearly 39 minutes and had no assists as the Pacers lost 85-75. The win allowed New York to climb back within 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals. Indiana gets a second chance to close out the series Saturday at home, where they are 5-0 in the post-season and have won all five games by double digits. Vogel has not said who will start Saturday if Hill does not play. "We prepare for guys to be out. D.J. Augustin, Ben Hansbrough. Lance (Stephenson) understands that he has to play some (point guard)," Vogel said. "Theyve prepared for that all year. . Mentally for those guys, knowing might help them a little bit." The Knicks arent sure what to expect, either. Coach Mike Woodson told reporters Friday that his team was preparing as if Hill would play. At Saturdays shootaround, Woodson explained he wasnt sure what to expect, though the Knicks couldnt let that affect them in Game 6. "It doesnt matter who plays for them. Weve still got to do what we do. Its about what we do at this particular time," Woodson said. The NBAs protocol states that any player diagnosed with a concussion must be held out of all activities until he is symptom-free at rest and team doctors see no "appreciable" difference between the players baseline test conducted before the season and the test after the injury. Then the player must prove he is symptom-free as the level of exertion increases. Team doctors can determine whether the player passes, a decision that must be discussed with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the NBAs director of the concussion program. The league has not established a timetable for how long players must sit out before returning because each injury is different. Sometimes, the recovery time is quick. Kobe Bryant, for instance, did not miss a game after breaking his nose and being diagnosed with a concussion in February 2012. "I know back in the day I took some blows and you couldve easily called it concussions. But hell, you just played," Woodson said. "Thats the policy and I think its a good policy because, again, this is still a basketball game and youve got to deal with your health. Thats more important." Leaving one looming question: Will the decision about Hill make a difference in this series? "Finding out literally an hour or two hours before the game (Thursday) is a rough spot to put a guy in. For all of us, really," Pacers forward David West said. "We had to change some of the things we were accustomed to doing, take some of Georges stuff out of the package. But again, were prepared. Had a good day yesterday, a good day today. Our focus is where it needs to be."Lonnie Walker Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Patty Mills Spurs Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. https://www.spurslockerroom.com/Lamarcus-Aldridge-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Patty Mills Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Tony Parker Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night.Washington State has won five straight games and is tied for the lead in the Pac-12 North but not all is right with the Cougars.Theyve been outscored 25-9 in the fourth quarter of the past two games, allowing their opponents to challenge them late. Thats a trend that could bite them in the future.Its just us not stepping on teams or finishing teams off, running back Jamal Morrow said. We have had like three-score leads, and offensively, you just have to continue to be able to score. Thats something were going to work on this week.Coach Mike Leach believes his team tends to relax with a big lead.I think the bigger thing is the whole general `staying focused for a long period of time thing, Leach said. I dont think its necessarily some weird level of satisfaction, but I do think we relax a little bit.Its just a general sharpness of our focus. Weve got to maintain it all the time, Leach said. Were a team thats battling to play our best game. We havent played our best game yet and we need to see how long we can sustain it and do it.Against UCLA, Washington State led 24-7 at the end of the third quarter, only to get outscored 14-3 in the fourth. Thaat pattern continued last weekend at Arizona State, as the Sun Devils outscored the Cougars 11-6 in the fourth quarter, but still lost the game by five points.ddddddddddddimely turnovers saved the Cougars against UCLA. Washington State beat Arizona State with shrewd clock management.The close finishes mean Washington State (5-2, 4-0 Pac-12) wont be inclined to overlook Oregon State (2-5, 1-3) this Saturday in Corvallis. Washington State would become bowl-eligible with a win.Winning in the Pac-12 is never easy, safety Robert Taylor said. I look at Oregon State as I look at playing Alabama. Thats the mindset we all have to have on this team.The Cougars are tied with No. 4 Washington on top of the Pac-12 North standings. The two teams play Nov. 25 in Pullman.Theyre both 4-0 in league play for the first time since 1997, when both teams started league play at 5-0. They are the lone remaining teams to still be undefeated in Pac-12 play. No team has gone undefeated through league play since the league expanded to 12 teams. ' ' '