The Timberwolves open the Tom Thibodeau era tonight in Memphis against a Grizzlies team that will be noticeably shorthanded.

The Grizzlies determied at Wednesday's shootaround that five-time All-NBA defensive selection Tony Allen won't play because of an injured knee that just isn't ready yet.

New Memphis coach David Fizdale already had said newly signed Chandler Parsons (knee rehab) and veteran forward Brandan Wright (ankle) won't play, either.

The Wolves had everyone healthy and all participated in this morning's shootaround in Memphis.

The Wolves opened the season at FedExForum two years ago with a 105-101 loss in which they started Ricky Rubio, Corey Brewer, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Pekovic and Thad Young.

That also was Zach LaVine's first NBA game, but he didn't play a second that night.

Those days are long gone.

Tonight is rookie Kris Dunn's first game and you can bet he'll play, off the bench with the team's second unit.

"All my life," he said at shootaround about waiting for his first NBA game. "I've been playing the game for so long, been watching so many NBA games. Now the time is here."

A year ago, Thibodeau was on sabattical, taking a season away from the game by studying other franchises after the Chicago Bulls fired him.

Asked if he remembers where he was on opening night this time last year, he said, "I don't. I think I was somewhere. I may have been in Charlotte."

The Wolves and Grizzlies play each other four times in less than a month. The Wolves won a preseason game at Target Center last week, the Grizzlies visit for the Wolves home opener on Tuesday and they play again in Memphis on Nov. 19.