The Denver Nuggets needed a win desperately Monday night after two tough losses to Western Conference rivals and they got that win, just barely, in a tight game against the Utah Jazz with a 128-125 victory. 

The game came down to the wire and after a resurgent fourth quarter by the Jazz where they outscored the Nuggets by four points, but Denver managed to outlast the comeback and finished the game on top, but the biggest deciding factor in that win had to have been the Herculean efforts of star Jamal Murray.

"He just carried us. He really did," Nuggets head coach David Adelman said (via Nuggets). "He was the guy that had legs tonight. Tough shot making, we tried to get him into certain combinations where he had matchups that he liked, and Nikola's [Jokic] being guarded by three people, so it was a Jamal night."

Murray scored a game-leading 45 points on a highly efficient clip. He shot 13-19 from the field, including a massive 8-13 from three point range, while adding two rebounds and eight assists.

On a far quieter night for Nikola Jokic and with the Nuggets still depleted of much of their firepower from their supporting cast, they quite simply don't finish Monday night with a win if Murray didn't have such an outstanding performance. 

With such supreme talent at his side in the form of Jokic, Murray can at times fly under the radar, but he proves loudly and often that he is just as much of an X factor for Denver's success. He's starting to attain some of that deserved recognition, like with his career-first All-Star selection this season, but's still underrated at his position.

Murray has been the foundation that has kept the Nuggets competitive this season as as the entire starting five around him have gone down with injuries at various times of the season. For the Nuggets to remain not just competitive, but serious contenders for another NBA title, they'll need Murray operating at top form like he has been. 

The explosiveness that he displayed Monday night is yet another reminder of how elite he is at his position. 

Murray is having a career season. He's scoring more than ever at 25.3 points per game and both his rebounding and assist numbers have made jumps to career-high levels at 4.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.

He's always been an efficient three point shooter, but he's more confident in his shot than ever and attempting 7.4 threes per game.

The Nuggets need both of their superstars in top form and performances like Monday's prove without a doubt just how valuable Murray is.