Warriors extend Podziemski's contract for over $100 million, Celtics crush 76ers, and Irving's comeback in Macau becomes the focus.

With just nine days to go before the start of the 2026-27 NBA regular season, teams are making final roster adjustments through preseason games. However, this weekend's NBA news isn't just about game results. From the Warriors' significant contract extensions and the Celtics' new star duo to the Mavericks' key guard's imminent return to the court, all reflect the changing competitive landscape of the league in the new season.

On the other hand, the development of young players and the risk of injury have become issues that each team must face before the start of the season.

The Warriors signed Podziemski to a $110 million contract extension, laying the groundwork for the team's future.

The Golden State Warriors have reached a five-year, $110 million contract extension agreement with 23-year-old guard Brandin Podziemski, which includes a two-way option for the final year.

Podziemski played all 82 regular season games in the 2025–26 season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, with a 37.11 TP3T three-point shooting percentage. Although still in the development stage of his career, his versatility, rebounding ability, and teamwork have made the Warriors willing to establish a long-term partnership with him ahead of time.

For the Warriors, this contract extension is not just about retaining young players, but also about gradually building the team's core for the next stage of Stephen Curry's career. How to maintain the competitiveness of veterans while developing a successor roster will be a crucial challenge for the Warriors in the coming years.Reuters

The Celtics defeated the 76ers by 144 points, with Paul George and Tatum teaming up for the first time.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 144-106 in a preseason game, showcasing the offensive firepower of their new roster.

Payton Pritchard led the team with 25 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Paul George, who joined the team in the offseason, showcased his value on both ends of the court in his Celtics debut with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals.

This summer, the Celtics and 76ers completed a major trade involving Jaylen Brown and Paul George, changing the core duo of both Eastern Conference teams. This preseason game was supposed to see Brown face his former team as an opponent for the first time, but he ultimately did not play, and the 76ers also rested LeBron James and Joel Embiid.

While preseason results don't directly reflect regular season strength, the Celtics' dominant 70-41 rebounding performance demonstrates that their new roster already possesses noteworthy competitiveness. The distribution of ball possession between George and Tatum, their wing defense, and their offensive efficiency will be key areas to observe in the new season.

Kyrie Irving returns to the court after 19 months as the Mavericks face the Rockets in Macau.

The second game of the NBA Macau preseason took place today, with the Dallas Mavericks facing the Houston Rockets once again. The most anticipated aspect was Kyrie Irving's potential return to the game after a 19-month injury layoff.

Irving missed the entire 2025–26 season after suffering a torn ACL in March 2025. Now, the Mavericks have entered a new phase centered around Cooper Flagg, and Irving's return will not only increase the team's offensive creativity but will also affect Flagg's ball-handling and offensive role in the new season.

In their first game in Macau on October 9, the Rockets won 135-117. Alperen Şengün recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Flagg scored 19 points in the first half, demonstrating his ambition to further improve his offensive capabilities in the new season.

The Macau series is also an important event for the NBA to continue expanding its international market. Beyond the games themselves, the interaction between star players and local fans, as well as the increased attention generated by international events, once again demonstrates the importance of the Asian market to the NBA.

Kings' young center Raynaud suffered a right knee injury, raising injury concerns before the start of the season.

The Sacramento Kings lost to the Golden State Warriors 106-111 in the preseason, but the team is more concerned about the injury of second-year center Maxime Raynaud.

Raynaud collided with Stephen Curry while setting a screen for a teammate in the second quarter, and subsequently fell to the ground due to pain in his right knee. He was eventually assisted by staff to leave the court in a wheelchair. Before the injury, he had only played nine minutes, but had already scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.

Raynaud, who stands at 7 feet 1 inch, averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in his rookie season and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He was originally considered a promising young rim protector for the Sacramento Kings.

As of now, the Kings have not released the full results of the injury diagnosis, and further imaging examinations are expected to confirm the extent of the injury. Whether the team can maintain a full rotation in the paint before the start of the season will depend on the results of these examinations.

Grizzlies' Isaiah Stewart suffers ankle injury, putting his interior rotation to the test at the start of the season.

The Memphis Grizzlies also reported injury news before the start of the season. The team announced that Isaiah Stewart, who joined the roster this summer, suffered a moderate left ankle sprain and is expected to be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Stewart was injured in the preseason game against the Hawks on October 5 and was expected to provide the Grizzlies with interior defense, rebounding, and physicality.

For the Grizzlies, who are currently rebuilding their roster, Stewart's injury adds uncertainty to their rotation at the start of the season. The team must find a balance between developing young players and maintaining competitiveness in the paint.

The Warriors and Wizards' young players showcased their abilities, making the preseason a stage for competition for rotation spots.

Besides player news, there are also many young players worth watching in this year's preseason.

In the Warriors' victory over the Kings, young forward Yaxel Lendeborg contributed 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. As the Warriors begin to manage Stephen Curry's playing time more aggressively, whether the young players can maintain the offensive efficiency of the second unit will directly impact the team's overall performance this season.

The Washington Wizards defeated the Detroit Pistons 114-108 in overtime. AJ Dybantsa, the 2026 NBA Draft's first overall pick, scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, showcasing his offensive potential. With experienced players like Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the Wizards are attempting to build partnerships between their young talents and established stars.

For these teams, the real importance of the preseason is not in winning or losing, but in finding the best player combinations through actual games and assessing which young players are ready to take on more responsibility.

Karl-Anthony Towns discusses mental health, reminding us of life lessons beyond player achievements.

In addition to the competition on the court, New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns also shared his experiences on World Mental Health Day.

Towns spoke about the long period of grief and psychological adjustment he faced after his mother passed away in 2020 from complications of COVID-19. Even after helping the Knicks win the NBA championship, he continued to learn how to cope with the emotions of losing a loved one.

This sharing serves as a reminder that even professional athletes with high incomes, fame, and athletic achievements can face psychological stress and emotional difficulties. Mental health and support systems should be an indispensable part of an athlete's long-term development.

With the season countdown underway, NBA teams are entering their final adjustment phase.

The 2026–27 NBA regular season will officially begin on October 20th (US time).

This summer's numerous major trades have created different competitive dynamics in the Eastern and Western Conferences compared to last season. Teams like the Celtics, 76ers, Timberwolves, Heat, and Mavericks all need time to integrate their new players into their existing systems.

The current preseason games show that teams are gradually shifting their focus from testing individual players to confirming key rotations, building team chemistry, and managing player health. As the official start of the season approaches, the recovery of star players from injuries and the integration of new lineups will be more important than the results of preseason games.

Today's NBA preseason results

October 11, 2026 (Taiwan time)