The Denver Nuggets couldn’t drown out Minnesota’s historic second-half rally or the noise coming from a jubilant Timberwolves locker room.

It was a harsh reminder that their reign as champions had ended earlier than intended.

The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 98-90 in Game 7 of their second-round series. Minnesota overcame a 20-point deficit and advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone looks on as time runs out in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

“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.

Malone started off terse in talking about the emotions after losing a game in which they led by 20 points. It’s the biggest comeback in Game 7 history in the play-by-play era (1997-98), according to the NBA.

“The season’s over. That´s what´s hard,” Malone said.

Everything was going according to plan, too, with Jamal Murray hitting a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 58-38 early in the third quarter. The fans erupted, the building was loud and the celebration appeared to be beginning.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray reacts after not getting a foul call in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

But it didn’t rattle the Timberwolves, who methodically climbed back into the game. It was due to their swarming defense and their star player, Anthony Edwards, finding just enough offense – 16 points on 6-for-24 shooting – and help from his teammates. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels each scored 23 points and Naz Reid came up big again in the fourth quarter.

Really, though, it boiled down to not over-thinking things for the Timberwolves, who were held to 39.2% shooting from the floor but made up for it with menacing defense that was the league’s best all season.

“We were trying to over-orchestrate match-ups and mismatches and all that sort of stuff and played right into their hands,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We just had to get back to moving the ball. Even when we were down, I kept looking at the field-goal percentage and we were in the 40s and 30s, and our defense was there. It went to a special place in that third quarter.”

They went on a 37-14 run to take a lead in the fourth quarter they wouldn’t relinquish. In that stretch, the Nuggets struggled from everywhere on the floor. Nothing was easy.

It was that sort of season-ending night. Murray, three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. were a combined 7 of 28 from 3-point range.

Porter, in particular, struggled all series as he finished 26 of 70 from the floor over the seven-game series after an outstanding showing against the Lakers in the first round. He had seven points Sunday.

“We just did not make enough shots in this series, Michael included, but he wasn´t the only one,” Malone said.

Jokic had a simplistic explanation.

“They played good defense,” he said.

Malone echoed that thought, then threw in another.

“This feeling sucks,” he said. “That´s what I told our players – we go from training camp all the way through, and then it comes to an abrupt halt. That hurts.”

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after being called for a foul in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

It could have been the cumulative effect of a rough season catching up with the Nuggets. They played until June to win their first NBA title, then contended with Murray’s ailments during the regular season and received everyone’s best shot as the defending champion. They couldn’t rest players as much as they could the previous year because they wanted to reclaim the top seed in the West. They tied a franchise record with 57 wins but lost the tiebreaker to Oklahoma City, settling for the second spot while Minnesota dropped to third.

That meant Game 7 would be in Denver on Sunday night, where Malone was confident the home crowd would make a difference.

The Wolves quieted both the Nuggets and their fans with their third win in Denver.

“it´s hard because the teams are hungrier, better talented than last year probably,” said Jokic, who had 34 points and 19 rebounds. “Everybody wants to beat us.”

Jokic took a pragmatic stance on what it’s going to take for the Nuggets to be in the running for another title.

“Some teams never win a championship again,” Jokic said. “I´m just glad we had an opportunity this year. We will see.”

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, front, pursues the ball after he knocked it away from Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, front left, center DeAndre Jordan and guard Julian Strawther look on as time runs out in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the against the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left, looks to pass the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley defends in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, fields a pass as center Nikola Jokic, back left, sets a pick on Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver.