B-Roy eyes Saturday return, Pek back at practice

The Timberwolves worked out today in the first of a rare set of back-to-back practices before Saturday's game.

A couple quick things:

* Brandon Roy practiced fully and intends to do so tomorrow. If Friday's workout goes well, he said there's a chance he could return for the first time since Nov. 9 for Saturday's game.

"If everything feels good, I'll talk to Coach and see if Saturday is the day," he said.

Roy did 5-on-5 half-court work on Thursday and will scrimmage with his teammates on Friday in his first back-to-back practices since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee five weeks ago.

"These two days are good for me," Roy said. "Today was a good day, so going again tomorrow will just give me the confidence and reassurance that I can go out there and play in the game."

* Big Pek practiced normally today after he fell ill during Wednesday's 87-84 home loss to Houston.

"One moment, I feel really bad, like I have a breakdown in my body," he said. "I just feel bad. I start almost to see stars. It was better to go out because I couldn't help them. I just make more damage inside if I stay, so I go out, take some IVs and feel better."

* Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio worked on their conditioning long after practice today.

Love -- who went 3-for-14 shooting against the Rockets -- ran on an anti-gravity treadmill that takes the weight bearing off his knees and ankles while Rubio leapt from a standing-still position onto blocks.

Rubio seemed to come through his increased 21 minutes played Wednesday with no issues.

* Love is sixth among frontcourt players and Rubio eighth among guards in the second release of All-Star Game balloting released Thursday. Neither has a chance to be voted a starter, and it's unlikely Love will make it back as a coach's pick unless he and the Wolves get very hot in a real hurry.