The Denver Nuggets are off to the best 23-game start in franchise history, and they’re doing it with significant pieces of their team sideline. Those big names, Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, aren’t coming as soon as some may hope, so, in David Adelman’s words — the Nuggets will have to keep holding it down.

The two Nuggets starters, who lead the team’s defense, each went down within a few days of each other last month. Braun left Nov. 12’s win against the Los Angeles Clippers with a left ankle injury that carries a six-week timeline. Then it was Gordon, a week later, with a hamstring injury that has a minimum four-week timeline.

The team’s defense has clearly slipped without their two best defenders, and the Nuggets have struggled at home recently — dropping four in a row. Then there’s a franchise’s best 10-game road win streak as part of the team’s torrid 17-6 start. Without CB and AG, the Nuggets are still doing more than holding their own. There’s no doubt, everyone would like to see the two back on the floor soon.

Also missing from an injury that was also suffered in mid-November is Julian Strawther. He was in and out of the rotation early this season, but the sharpshooting former first-rounder would likely be playing quite a bit right now if his back wasn’t bugging him.

“Jules looks alright, Aaron and Christian, it’s a slow process,” David Adelman said from a rare practice on Tuesday. “I would imagine they celebrate the holiday without playing. We’ll see. Maybe on that trip, we get them back; maybe we don’t. They both seem good. Christian is in a good spot; he’s moving around more. Aaron’s injury it’s more of a tedicous buildup. I’m excited to get those guys, but we have to hold it down until we get them.”

The Nuggets have barely been home, nor have they had many off days. Hence, the lack of practice. After Thursday’s game in Sacramento, the Nuggets have five of six games in Denver through Christmas. After that, they jet off on a giant seven-game tour of mostly the East Coast. Aside from getting Gordon and Braun back for the big showcase that is Christmas, it would mean the two are ready to go for that long road trip, which would be huge.

It sounds like it may be during or even after that time away from Denver, we see the Nuggets’ starting five back together again — not good news. Still, the Nuggets have kept chugging along — which is important to do despite injuries in a league where OKC is 23-1 without having played a single game this season with their entire top seven available.

“Resilient, we don’t freak out as much as the outside noise does,” Adelman said. “Losing at home is never good, but winning this many times on the road is very good. Those guys are very connected; today was a very positive vibe. Veteran group, they get it, they understand it. There’s only one OKC right now, then there’s us and everyone else.”

What’s next for the Nuggets?

The Nuggets have a few days off before traveling to Sacramento on Thursday to wrap up four games in a row on the road. Denver then hosts the Rockets in a big-time clash on Dec. 15. That road trip begins on Dec. 27 in Orlando and runs into mid-January.