DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets couldn’t quiet an epic second-half comeback by Minnesota or the noise emanating from a boisterous Timberwolves locker room.
It was a thunderous and stinging reminder of the obvious — their reign as champions was over, and much sooner than expected.
The young and confident Timberwolves came into Denver’s house and spoiled the party by eliminating the Nuggets with a 98-90 win Sunday night in Game 7 of their second-round series. Minnesota overcame a 20-point deficit to make the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
“No one ever said this was going to be easy trying to repeat,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
The Nuggets became the fifth straight reigning champion to fail to reach the conference finals in their quest to repeat. As Malone answered questions following the game, the vibrations from the Timberwolves’ rowdy locker room celebration echoed from down the hall.
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
China Coast Guard stops four Philippine individuals from intruding into Huangyan Island
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
Xi sends greetings to Malaysia's new king
Hungary ends row with EU over aid
Hungary ends row with EU over aid
Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer
China launches new satellite via Kuaizhou
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
New technologies of smart agriculture on display at 5th CIIE in Shanghai