Oklahoma City Thunder two-way player Payton Sandfort hit a big milestone on Wednesday. In a crushing away win over the Brooklyn Nets, Sandfort stepped into his first NBA game, and scored his first NBA points, a three-pointer in the final minute of the game.
Around 12 hours later, he was back in Oklahoma City to support his brother, Pryce, as he and Nebraska opened their NCAA tournament run against Troy.
“It worked out. I’m happy I could be here,” Sandfort told Hurrdat Sports. “It’s pretty special, especially playing in our home arena.”
Sandfort said that after Wednesday’s game, he and the team had dinner that went until around 1 a.m., before he took a taxi at three to catch a six a.m. flight back to Oklahoma City.
“Last night was pretty special,” Sandfort told Hurrdat Sports, “and now being able to be here, hopefully it’s a special 24 hours.”
OKC Thunder forward Payton Sandfort is surprising his brother at March Madness after his game in Brooklyn last night. 🤯
Team dinner: 1 a.m.
Taxi: 3 a.m.
Flight: 6 a.m.
Nebraska tipoff: 11:40 a.m. pic.twitter.com/P95mDIZJmS— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) March 19, 2026
Making it extra special was Pryce Sandfort putting up a dominant performance, racking up 17 points in the first half of the game behind five first-half three-pointers.
Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort is BURYING shots with FIVE first half 3-pointers 🔥
(via @MarchMadnessMBB) pic.twitter.com/Nd6jBkb2Gf
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 19, 2026
Payton Sandfort and the Thunder are in the middle of a five-game road trip, and are set to play the Washington Wizards on Saturday. That means that Sandfort will have another short travel turnaround before that game, and won’t be able to watch his brother if Nebraska advances. But Sandfort said that it was worth it.
“Knowing that it’s his first tournament game, I wanted to be here and support him. I don’t even think he knows I’m here, but he will after,” Sandfort said.