<p>INDIANAPOLIS — The short-handed Indiana Pacers will be down at least one more player for Tuesday night’s play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets after forward Caris LeVert entered the league’s health and safety protocol.</p>
<p>Team officials made the announcement about five hours before tipoff and a day after coach Nate Bjorkgren said LeVert was feeling better and was expected to play after missing the second half of Sunday’s victory over Toronto with a migraine headache.</p>
<p>It’s the latest twist for the Pacers in an injury-plagued season. Starting forward T.J. Warren hasn’t played since late December because of a stress fracture in his left foot. Center Myles Turner hasn’t played since mid-April because of a right foot injury. And now LeVert, who had surgery earlier this year to remove a cancerous growth in his kidney after being acquired in a January trade with Brooklyn, can’t return for 10 to 14 days — if the Pacers are still playing.</p>
<p>Backup guard Jeremy Lamb also has been ruled out Tuesday with an injured left knee and starting forward Domantas Sabonis is listed as questionable with an injured left quad.</p>
<p>Indiana enters the postseason as the No. 9 seed in the East and must beat the Hornets to advance to a second play-in game Thursday. Two wins would give Indiana the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and a first-round matchup with top-seeded Philadelphia.</p>
<p>But the Pacers could be getting a few players back.</p>
<p>Guards Malcolm Brogdon (right surgery), Aaron Holiday (right toe) and Edmond Sumner (left knee) are all considered questionable.</p>
<hr />
<p>More AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a></p>
