Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is hoping to return early from hand surgery.

He had three screws inserted into his left hand Tuesday during surgery to help repair a broken fourth metacarpal bone.

The official timetable for his recovery is four to six weeks, but he's shooting for earlier.

"After 3 1/2, four weeks, I'll send back an X-ray," Love told the Star Tribune. "The process is that you can start doing a little more each week. But we'll send the X-ray back and see how it looks and see how I feel and if the doctor is OK with it, I'll be good to go."

If Love returns after just four weeks, he'd miss 10 games and return on Nov. 21 against Portland.