After being shredded by Luka Dončić and the Lakers, the Timberwolves are still looking to rediscover their defensive edge.

The reserve center, who played 14 minutes in the season-opening loss to Golden State on Tuesday, was ruled out for Friday’s playoff rematch with Minnesota because of left knee soreness.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers open their seasons Wednesday at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

Dončić became the first player in NBA history to begin the season with consecutive 40-point, 10-rebound and 5-assist games.

Anthony Edwards had 41 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied in the fourth quarter for a 118-114 season-opening win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nikola Jokić leads the Nuggets against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves in an early-season Western Conference showdown.

After back-to-back seasons making it to the Western Conference Finals, the Wolves have unveiled a total of 51 new food items, and a new “rotating test kitchen" for fans to choose from as they pursue a championship again.

All the preseason speculation evaporated in the opening game when Donte DiVincenzo started and Rob Dillingham didn’t play.

In fairness, it has only been two games. There are 80 to play in the regular season. Perhaps Sunday’s home opener against Indiana in front of a raucous Target Center crowd will revive Minnesota’s defensive intensity and the Wolves won’t relinquish it again from there.