IC Cold Links: Rush On The Court, Stephenson In Court, Granger On The Side Of The Road

This should be an interesting day for the Indiana Pacers.

The team is in Minnesota to play the Timberwolves tonight in their penultimate preseason game. Brandon Rush is expected to start in place of the injured Danny Granger.

Meanwhile, Lance Stephenson's day in court has arrived as the Pacers' rookie will face a few charges including a felony assault charge in a New York courtroom today. Stephenson is expected to hop a flight after the proceedings and join the team in time for the game in Minneapolis.

Speaking of hopping a flight, Danny Granger had to do that yesterday after missing the team flight due to his car getting towed out from under him on the way to the airport. Apparently the little-used car he was driving had expired tags. Tough love from the po-po on that one. Maybe this was a crafty "dog ate my homework" manuever by Granger when he knew he'd miss the plane. Either way it is pretty funny.

These stories and more are all covered in the links after the jump.

• Pacers' O'Brien picks Rush to fill in for injured Granger
  Mike Wells reports on a surprised Rush getting one last chance to impress during the preseason, along with more on Stephenson's court date.
• Danny Granger tweets his excuse for missing the team plane
  Granger's twitter feed has the play-by-play from the side of the road.
• Wolves Updates 10/19 - Canis Hoopus
  What the papers and web are saying about the Timberwolves on October 19, 2010.

• Wayne Ellington taking his best shot at Timberwolves' shooting guard spot
  Ray Richardson reports on Ellington getting a look at the starting shooting guard spot for Minny.

• PACERS: Pacers at IFD Fire Station #13
  Josh McRoberts, Brandon Rush, Lance Stephenson, Magnum Rolle and Solomon Jones vistied the folks at a local fire station and then go into the act for some entertaining pictures.
• Create-a-Caption: Easy, there, Gordon Hayward - Ball Don't Lie
• Technicals remaining an issue during NBA preseason - USATODAY.com
  The NBA's new emphasis on respecting the game has led to a surge in technicals fouls in the preseason and growing annoyance from the NBA players association.