Jrue Holiday out Wednesday as ankle inflammation lingers

It's a good thing the New Orleans Pelicans signed Nate Wolters when they did.

If Wolters sounds like an odd savior, that's because he is. The Pelicans dealt Austin Rivers this week and will be without Jrue Holiday on Wednesday when they take on the Detroit Pistons, leaving the newly signed Wolters and Jimmer Fredette as the team's lone lead guards, unless they want to play Tyreke Evans out of position.

Holiday is dealing with right ankle inflammation, an issue that flared up on Monday and forced him out at halftime. Losing Holiday is a massive blow, not just because of the paucity of options behind him, but because he's one of the better defensive point guards in the league and the Pistons employ red-hot Brandon Jennings.

The Pelicans have been 8.4 points per 100 possessions worse without Holiday this year, and the team has struggled with lineups that don't include Holiday and Anthony Davis together. 

Holiday is averaging 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists, numbers that won't be easily replicated by Wolters and Fredette.

Wolters showed a season ago he can be a serviceable distributor in a small role, and Fredette can at least shoot. Evans, who often plays a point-forward role with the ball in his hands, will likely act as the de facto point guard for long stretches. 

Evans, who played some point as a rookie, is a great dribble penetrator and is averaging 5.3 assists, but the team will give up a lot on the defensive end Wednesday.