A grueling Timberwolves season is over at last

DENVER – There were mixed emotions in the Timberwolves’ locker room after their final loss of the season to the Nuggets on Wednesday night. There was happiness that a trying season was now over, but also some sadness that it all finally came to an end.

“It is emotional,” interim coach Ryan Saunders said. “We don’t like playing only 82 games. That’s where the first emotion comes from. The second emotion comes from … the battle tonight with everything. The way our guys fought [Wednesday], that’s been indicative of our season.”

But effort isn’t enough in the NBA, and the Western Conference was too tough for the Wolves to traverse on effort alone. Some players said it was among the most difficult…