Kevin Love to meet with doctor next week, hopes to play by end of March

Kevin Love could be back with the team next Friday. (David Sherman/Getty Images)

Kevin Love will travel to New York City next week to meet with the doctor that performed his hand surgery in January and said he hopes to get clearance to return to the court so that he can join his team next Friday for a game in Houston against the Rockets.

But even if he gets clearance, he said in a report from Jerry Zgoda of the Star-Tribune that he personally feels he shouldn't play next week, perhaps in part because he underwent hand surgery before the season and returned in November, earlier than expected.

Instead, Love hopes to realistically play in the final 15 - 20 games of the regular season, which would set his return for some time around March 24 when the Wolves host the Chicago Bulls.

“It’s really up to the doctor and myself and Glen and David,” he said, referring to owner Glen Taylor and basketball President David Kahn. “But until I see what the doctor says, I just won’t know.”