When the Denver Nuggets decided this summer to give Jamal Murray a four-year, $208 million contract extension — the most money they could have paid him, over the maximum number of years, coming off the rockiest stretch of his eight-year career — plenty of people wondered why.

Even through their seven-game win streak, the Nuggets have been a bit banged up. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., and Peyton Watson have all missed time during their dominant stretch, and their injury concerns will likely carry into the All-Star break.