Powcast Basketball Daily: Payton Pritchard Commits as Porzingis speaks as Warriors confirm an indefinite absence and more

Golden State erased a huge deficit against the Lakers, while NLEX and San Miguel delivered statement wins in the PBA. Boston also secured a key guard for the future, and the Warriors received a clearer but still uncertain update on Kristaps Porzingis.

1. Warriors erase 20 point deficit to beat Lakers in Las Vegas

The Warriors turned a rough opening into a 101 to 89 preseason win over the Lakers at T Mobile Arena, erasing a 20 point deficit and punishing 30 Los Angeles turnovers. Yaxel Lendeborg led Golden State with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Austin Reaves carried the Lakers with 28 points and seven assists. Walker Kessler made an encouraging Los Angeles debut with 11 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes, but Luka Doncic was held out for rest. Warriors coach Steve Kerr told the San Francisco Chronicle that his team remained far from the execution level he wants after committing 20 turnovers. That concern fits Powcast's earlier look at the Lakers and Warriors, because both clubs still have details to clean up.

2. Porzingis speaks as Warriors confirm an indefinite absence

Golden State confirmed that Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely because of a health issue, and the veteran center said he is working with doctors, improving and remaining patient. There is no timetable for his return, leaving Kerr to prepare smaller combinations. Porzingis has remained around the team, but basketball comes second while the medical process continues. This is a meaningful update from Tuesday's Powcast report on Golden State's smaller lineup, when the club had not issued its own confirmation. His eventual availability matters because his shooting and rim protection were supposed to provide more space and size.

3. NLEX overwhelms Titan Ultra and stays on top of Group A

NLEX broke open a tied game with a dominant second half and routed Titan Ultra, 147 to 115, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Road Warriors moved to 9 wins and 2 losses, keeping first place in Group A and moving closer to a favorable quarterfinal path. After a 65 to 65 halftime score, NLEX won the third quarter 37 to 14, then poured in 45 points in the fourth. Import Deonte Burton had 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks, while Robert Bolick added 20 points and eight assists. Kevin Alas scored 19, LJay Gonzales had 17 and Robert Herndon supplied 16 as the NLEX bench outscored Titan Ultra's reserves 82 to 37. Joshua Munzon scored 33 and Tirrell Brown had 29 for Titan Ultra.

4. George King and June Mar Fajardo power San Miguel past Terrafirma

San Miguel stayed close behind NLEX by beating Terrafirma, 135 to 105, and improving to 8 wins and 3 losses in Group A. George King scored 44 points with five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal, taking control during the middle quarters. June Mar Fajardo produced a conference high 25 points and 12 rebounds, while CJ Perez added 22 points, five rebounds and three assists. Beyond strengthening San Miguel's hold on a top two position, the result finalized quarterfinal places for TNT and Converge and eliminated Terrafirma, Titan Ultra and Macau. The Beermen still have seeding work left, but the combination of King and Fajardo is increasingly difficult to defend inside or away from the basket.

5. Celtics commit to Payton Pritchard with a major extension

Boston and Payton Pritchard agreed to a two year contract extension reportedly worth 44.2 million dollars, with a mutual option for the 2029 to 2030 season. The deal follows the best season of the 28 year old guard's career, when he averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds across 79 games with 50 starts. He had started only 17 games over his first five seasons, showing how far his role has grown. Pritchard also helped Boston win the 2024 title and earned Sixth Man of the Year honors the following season. The agreement gives the Celtics long term backcourt stability while they ask him to carry more scoring and playmaking responsibility.