The Denver Nuggets have battled injuries all season long, a situation that hasn't been ideal, given the Nuggets entered this season with high hopes of contending for an NBA title after all their offseason moves. However, they enter Friday's NBA slate with the third seed in the Western Conference, playing far better than expected.

Of Denver's opening night starters against the Golden State Warriors, only one has missed fewer than 15 games this season, that being Jamal Murray. He's been sidelined for just five games, but he is a major reason the Nuggets have been able to win a lot of these contests during the injury stretch they've dealt with.

Due to him being the only healthy starter this season, he's seen an increase in role and responsibility, averaging career-highs in points (25.9 PPG), assists (7.3 APG), rebounds (4.3 RPG), and even field goal (48.9 FG%) and three-point (44.2 3PT%) percentages.

While you can point to the career-high in shot attempts or the highest usage rate of his career, Murray believes it's one reason why he's been able to play so well this season: playing more in the first quarter.

"I think me playing more in the first quarter helps me a lot. Like tremendously," Murray said.

Murray is on average playing 9.9 minutes per first quarter this season, where he ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring during the period at 7.3 per game. Shooting 52.4% from the field in the quarter, he's been able to establish himself and see shots fall in, improving his confidence for the rest of the game.

"Establishes a rhythm. I don't have to wait till the second quarter to try to find it. It's like whether I miss or make in the first, I've played till I sweat. I have a rhythm most of the time, and if I don't, at least I've had a chance to find it...It's just a huge difference where I can come in the game and actually have a sweat," he added. 

The All-Star reserves have yet to be announced, but given the numbers he has put up and the record he has Denver at, it's hard to imagine a world where Murray isn't selected to his first All-Star game here in 2026.

Regardless, his focus likely remains on winning another championship, something they last did in 2023 by defeating the Miami Heat. The Nuggets might be able to get by in the regular season without key players, but they will need their team at full strength come playoff time.