Pekovic cleared for contact practice

Timberwolves veteran center Nikola Pekovic has been cleared to participate in full contact practices, the next step toward his return from April surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Trouble is, the Wolves haven't practiced much lately with a schedule that includes tonight's game at Target Center against Utah, their third game in four nights.

Pekovic did some contact action the other day, but he'll likely need some full practices behind him before he returns to game action.

With games tonight at home and Thursday at Detroit, there's probably little chance of getting those kind of practices in until starting Sunday at the earliest.

He has not played since a March 11 game at Phoenix.