IC Cold Links: Pacers Come Into March Like A Lamb, Go Out Like Lion

After the first week in March, the Indiana Pacers were left for dead on the side of the road. Their West Coast road trip produced few highlights and four straight losses which were never in doubt.

But the Pacers found some solace, not to mention their game, when they returned home. Playing their best basketball of the season, the Pacers finished March by winning all seven of their home games and closing out the the month at 8-4 (including 6-1 in their last seven games) after that miserable first week on the road.

The 8-8 record for March was the team's first .500 month since last March. Jim O'Brien is 23-22 with the Pacers in March which makes him the Brandon Rush of NBA coaches.

They're also done dropping down the upside-down standings after slipping behind the Clippers last night into 10th place. Well, at least they should be done dropping. The Pacers could slip again into a tie for 11th if they win out  and New Orleans and/or Chicago losses all of their games. In this strange season, you can't rule it out until it actually happens.

After the jump, more links of interest from the win last night.

• AP game report
• PACERS: Inside the Game: Pacers 102, Kings 95
  Bruno's Inside the Game report has all of the numbers, notes, quotes and highlights from the win.
• Pacers give O'Brien 100th win with team
  Mike Wells reports on the Pacers continuing their winning ways at home.
• Bad third quarter, Pacers' Granger lead to Kings loss
  Jason Jones reports on the Kings succumbing to the Pacers in the second half as Danny Granger went off.
• Behind Granger, Pacers rally for eight straight home win
  Johnny O makes a salient point in his recap for NBA.com: the Pacers are playing pretty well.
• Getting 100 wins is irrelevant to O'Brien
  Mike Wells blogs the back story with JOB's irrelevant comment and hits the lottery machine.
• Pacers Final Four Alums Talk About Their Championship Memories
  Ken Sothman took several Pacers down memory lane for their thoughts on playing in the Final Four.
• Pacers make Blue Devils feel right at home
  Bruno checks in the the Pacers' trio of former Dukies as they anticipate the Blue Devils playing at Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend as the favorites to win an NCAA title.

• Colts, Pacers to judge Final Four dunk contest
  Danny Granger and Dahntay Jones will take part in the local Final Four activities by judging a college dunk contest on Thursday at the Convention Center.