The Play-In Tournament is over and the seeding is officially set for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the best overall record at 64-18 and are poised to become the first back-to-back champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
With the playoff bracket now set, Hawkeye fans can watch three former stars help their squads push for the coveted Larry O'Brien, including former NCAA Player of the Year Luka Garza, Kris Murray, and Payton Sandfort.
How to watch the talented trio of former Iowa stars
The 2026 NBA Playoffs features three former Iowa men's basketball stars with a lot on the line as they push for basketball immortality.
Good luck to our guys in the NBA Playoffs 👊@LukaG_55 x @celtics @KrisMurray24 x @trailblazers @payton_20_ x @okcthunder pic.twitter.com/Z2dkZdeZXn
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) April 18, 2026
Luka Garza, forward (Boston Celtics)
2025-2026 regular season stats (69 games, 6 starts): 8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 57.7% FG, 43.3% 3P
After struggling to carve out a role during his first four seasons in the NBA, Luka Garza became a solid reserve for the Boston Celtics this season in his first year with the organization.
In July 2025, Garza signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal to join the Celtics after spending his rookie season with Detroit and three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. His contract has been worth every penny, as he's put up career highs across the board.
The Celtics earned the two-seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs and take on the seven-seed Philadelphia 76ers. Game one of the Round One series is on Sunday, April 19, at noon Central Time, and airs on ABC.
Kris Murray, forward (Portland Trail Blazers)
2025-2026 regular season stats (57 games, 15 starts): 5.6 points, 3.6 rebounds 46.7% FG, 27.9% 3P
One of the dynamic Murray twins, Kris Murray, is headed to the NBA Playoffs with the Portland Trail Blazers after they earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
Murray has carved out a nice reserve role with the Trail Blazers, and even started 15 games for them during the regular season.
After missing the postseason for the past four seasons, the Blazers are back, but have a tough first-round matchup against the two-seed San Antonio Spurs. Game one is on Sunday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. Central Time and airs on NBC/Peacock.
Payton Sandfort, forward (Oklahoma City Thunder)
2025-2026 regular season stats (4 games): 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 50% FG, 41.2% 3P
After joining the Oklahoma City Blue, Payton Sandfort's contract was converted to a two-way deal, allowing him to suit up for a handful of games for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Now the former Iowa sharpshooter and the Thunder are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and are primed to make another deep postseason run.
Sandfort isn't projected to make much of an impact in the playoffs, but to make it there in your rookie season is a grand accomplishment.
OKC takes on the eight-seed Phoenix Suns in the first round after Phoenix advanced out of the play-in tournament. Game one of the first-round series is on Sunday, April 19, at 2:30 p.m. Central Time, and airs on ABC.
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