Former Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett returns Sunday to the Target Center with his struggling Boston Celtics, who have lost six of their past 10 games and surrendered the top spot in the East to the Chicago Bulls. (Joel Koyama — ASSOCIATED PRESS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Given the difficulties the Wolves have been through this season, a fan might look at the next three games on the team's schedule and wince in anticipation.

The cream of the Eastern Conference crop will parade through the Target Center this week, starting Sunday with Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics. Then the Wolves play host to Chicago on Wednesday and Miami on Friday. Fans will be able to see some of the NBA's best in person, but the Wolves figure to take a few on the chin, right?

Well, that's not the way they look at it. For a team that starts the week with just 17 victories, it is an opportunity.

"We have a chance to impact different people's playoff positions," forward Kevin Love said. "That's what makes these games fun."

The Wolves' ability to do any sort of impacting depends on whether Love returns to action after missing two games because of a strained groin muscle. Love, who didn't travel with the team on its trip to Dallas and Oklahoma City, returned to practice Saturday. And while it wasn't a particularly intense practice coming after games on back-to-back nights, Love still was able to take part. He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.

"It felt good," Love said. "It was stiff for a couple days. Most of the pain is gone, and it's just a little tight right now. I'll have to wait and see on [Sunday's game]. But I'm not out for the season, let's put it that way. I'm OK. I'll be back."

Love said he'll have to see how he feels after having worked in Saturday's practice. He'll see how he feels in the morning, then after trying to warm up before the game before making a final decision

"If I come out [Sunday] and feel good, I'll probably try to give it a go. Right now, I'm just not sure."

The only other injury concern is for backup center Nikola Pekovic, who will miss the Boston game because of a sore hip.

Love and the Wolves should be in a good position to handicap the Eastern Conference playoffs after the week is over. Heading into Saturday's games, Chicago was the top seed in the East, with Boston two games back, a half-game ahead of Miami.

Boston has struggled of late, losing six of its past 10 games. After the Celtics allowed Charlotte -- the fifth-lowest scoring team in the NBA -- to score 30 fourth-quarter points in a two-point loss to the Bobcats, Celtics coach Doc Rivers was hard on his team.

"The way we're playing shocks me," he told the Boston-area media. "Our attitude shocks me. We're just not ready to win any games right now the way we play."

The Celtics' recent slump has pushed them out of the top spot in the East. Now the Celtics and Heat figure to vie for the No. 2 spot and the potential for home-court advantage in the second round of the playoffs that comes with it. That gives the Wolves the opportunity to be big-time spoilers.

"It's going to be very competitive," rookie guard Wes Johnson said. "Those guys are going to come in here, and they want to solidify their playoff spots. We can be [a spoiler]. That's our mentality going into this, to be the monkey wrench in there messing with those teams. That will be fun."

Fun and challenging. The Wolves have lost six consecutive games, could still be without Love and all three teams -- especially the Celtics -- figure to be highly motivated.

"They'll come out extra motivated," forward Anthony Tolliver said. "but that just means we have to be extra motivated too, and play harder."

"These are good contests for our guys," coach Kurt Rambis said. "Big games. We want our guys to play hard and play well, get a better feel for what we're doing."