National Basketball Association

Pacers' Hill will play in Game 6

Published Mar. 18, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Indiana Pacers guard George Hill has been cleared to play Saturday night against the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Hill missed Game 5 on Thursday night in New York because of a concussion.

The Pacers released a statement about 1 1/2 hours before the scheduled tipoff saying Hill passed the NBA's return protocol as part of the league's concussion policy.

The Pacers said Hill remained symptom-free after each step, including workouts and the shootaround Saturday.

Hill scored 26 points Tuesday night in Game 4 after a first-quarter collision with Knicks center Tyson Chandler. Two days later, after the team's 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, cutting their series lead to 3-2.