The Wolves will play on against Washington tonight without Andrei Kirilenko and Nikola Pekovic at Target Center, but...

Kevin Love and Chase Budinger both said today that they will confer with doctors next week in the hope of returning to game action within a week or two after that.

Love said he will visit his New York City hand surgeon next Wednesday and then join the team in time for that Friday's game at Houston.

He said he wouldn't jump straight in and play against the Rockets even if he gets doctor's clearance, like he did when he returned in November from the first time he broke that right shooting hand.

But he made it clear he hopes it won't be too much longer after that.

He said the difference between this time and last time is "surgery," and probably a little more conservative tack to his return.

"It's really up to the doctors and myself and Glen (Taylor) and David (Kahn) and pick where to go from there," Love said.

Love said he was "right on schedule" to play within eight to 10 weeks from his Jan. 15 surgery

Eight to 10 weeks would be between next Tuesday's game against San Antonio and a March 26 game at Detroit.

After that March 15 Houston game, the Wolves play New Orleans at home on a Sunday, at Memphis on Monday and at Sacramento and Phoenix that next Thursday and Friday.

Expect he'll play sometime in that week.

Budinger, meanwhile, said he will confer by phone with Dr. James Andrews on his knee next Tuesday, hoping to get clearance to practice after that with the intent that he could play within a week or two after that.