Love nearing return

Kevin Love says his surgically repaired right hand is better and he hopes to play 15 to 20 games this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ star says he will meet with a doctor in the first 10 days of March. He has yet to begin basketball-related activities but says his hand feels much better than when he broke it the first time during preseason. In a frustrating year in which he was coming off an Olympic gold medal, Love has played only 18 games this season. Love received the Kia Community Assist award before Sunday’s game against Golden State. He also met with children from St. Jude’s Children’s hospital for the league’s pediatric cancer awareness campaign.

Associated Press