No Dunks – March 18, 2026

Episode Title: Thunder Clinch Playoff Spot, Key Injuries & The Perfect March Madness Bracket
Hosts: Jay Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, JD
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, the No Dunks crew breaks down the latest NBA storylines, including the Oklahoma City Thunder clinching a playoff berth, notable player injuries affecting key teams, and Russell Westbrook’s new place on the all-time assist leaderboard. The second half dives deep into the collective chaos of picking their "perfect" March Madness bracket, blending a fun, semi-clueless approach with plenty of banter, nostalgia, and fan engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thunder Clinch Playoff Spot & Caruso’s Shoe Antics

[08:39 – 14:51]

• Thunder clinches a playoff berth:
  OKC becomes the first team to secure a spot in the postseason after SGA's explosive 40-point outing against Orlando.

  “The Thunder one, though. SGA scored 40 and like I said, they did punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs. So they are officially the first team in.” — Jay Skeets [12:42]

• Alex Caruso’s unorthodox block: Caruso uses his shoe to block a shot while his own foot gear is off, earning a tech and a goaltending call.

  “Caruso receiving a technical foul for using his shoe to block a shot...I didn't really realize it was going to cost my team basically three points.” — Trey Kirby [09:36]

• Debate about the rule:
  Discussion about whether using one’s shoe should be legal, with Skeets humorously proposing a change.

  “You should be able to use your own shoe in any way, shape and form you want to, but only in a scenario like this where it legitimately comes off your foot and you retrieve it.” — Jay Skeets [09:37]

2. Other NBA Headlines

[14:51 – 32:31]

• Timberwolves/Nuggets keep pace despite injuries: Both teams secure critical wins while dealing with roster setbacks, discussing Julius Randle’s uptick in production and Anthony Edwards' knee injury.

  “Maybe Anthony Edwards' injury helps them out in that guys like Julius Randall...can take on a bigger role and start to play better because he has not been good since the all star game.” — Tas Melas [15:38]

  • Edwards set for re-evaluation in 1-2 weeks; award eligibility in jeopardy due to games missed.

• Pistons’ Cade Cunningham injury: Listed as back spasms; speculation it’s precautionary, but Detroit faces late-season adversity with both Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart banged up.

  “They would like to be pumping on all cylinders, which is literally what a Piston does. And I don't think they are right now.” — Trey Kirby [27:13]

• Hornets blow out Heat: LaMelo Ball's strong performance and Kobe White’s impact highlight Charlotte's resurgence.
  Brandon Miller’s “talking to the crowd” moment gets a shoutout for being “good vibes.”

• Russell Westbrook climbs to 5th all-time in assists: Overtakes Steve Nash and Mark Jackson; reflection on his unique legacy as a triple-double machine.

  “He’s just a special guy. Doing it for a long time.” — Jay Skeets [32:36]

  Fun trivia: The hosts guess which teammates Westbrook has assisted the most; Kevin Durant is #1.

• Joel Embiid “loves a little contra”:
  Embiid embraces the heel role as Denver fans boo him for another absence. Jokic-Embiid postgame meeting lightly mentioned.

3. March Madness Bracket Mayhem

[39:02 – 91:47]

• The No Dunks Tradition:
  The crew annually fills out a bracket on-air, admitting their “basketball dummy” status regarding NCAA hoops.

  “We always have fun doing this because we know nothing about college basketball.” — Jay Skeets [04:27]

• Approach:

  • Strategy is mostly vibes, mascots, funny names, and family/fan allegiances.
  • Constant laughter over net rankings, school facts, and wild logic (e.g., if you know or like someone named “Troy,” pick Troy, if not, don’t).

• Memorable Bracket Quotes and Moments:

  • “I'm a Wolverine guy.” — JD [89:05] (picking Michigan over Kentucky)
  • “We’re just riding the horns.” — Jay Skeets [87:40] (picking Texas)
  • “Should it not have a big old yellow M beside it?” — Trey Kirby [90:38]

• Doug Miller’s beard decides Duke/Yukon:
  The Final Four spot hinges on whether their Duke-fan friend has a beard. He doesn’t, so Yukon goes through.

  “But we said it. If he didn’t have a beard, then they were not going through.” — Trey Kirby [86:48]

• Final Picks:

  • Final Four: UConn, Florida, Arizona, Michigan
  • Championship Game: UConn vs Michigan
  • Champion: Michigan Wolverines
  • Predicted final score: 163

• Fan engagement:
  Audience invited to join the No Dunks bracket pool; banter about watching tournament games in Atlanta and treating the start of March Madness as “a national holiday.”

4. Woah Boy of the Night

[92:57 – 93:45]

• Josh Hart gets the nod:
  33 points (12-13 FG, 5-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, 5 assists in Knicks win.

  “No one has ever done in terms of like the stats and then shooting 90% plus from the field. Or maybe nobody in Knicks history. Maybe it was that. Anyway, pretty impressive.” — Jay Skeets [93:40]

• Shoutout to Her Hoop Stats:
  Fans encouraged to check out this resource for following women’s NCAA and WNBA.

5. Notable Quotes & Banter

• “You got crickets.” — Tas Melas [07:01], about a silent, awkward podcast moment.
• “Cats or farms?” — Trey Kirby [52:28], deciding between Villanova and Utah State.
• “My family invented the corn harvesting machine, so I'm a big farm fan.” — Jay Skeets [52:32]
• “March is true madness.” — Tas Melas [96:42]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Thunder Clinch & Caruso’s Shoe Play: 08:39–14:51
• NBA Injury Updates: 14:51–32:31
• Russell Westbrook All-Time Assists & Trivia: 31:36–36:34
• Start of March Madness Bracket: 39:02 (continues through ~91:47)
• Doug Miller Decides Duke/UConn: 85:03–86:45
• Woah Boy of the Night: 92:57–93:45

Tone and Style

True to form, the No Dunks crew keeps things loose, self-deprecating, and highly interactive. The episode blends NBA expertise with joyful bracket chaos, making sports talk feel both accessible and celebratory.

For Listeners

If you missed this episode:

• You’ll get caught up on all the key NBA storylines as teams jostle for playoff spots amid mounting injuries.
• You’ll relive the madness of March (literally), as the guys build out a bracket that’s half basketball analysis, half total whimsy.
• You’ll hear plenty of fun tangents, inside jokes, and playful debates that make No Dunks beloved by hoops fans.

Skip:

• Ad reads and any non-content sections (the bracket segment is lengthy but entertaining even for non-NCAA fans).

“There’s a fire inside you, you can’t ignore. You’ve got competition to outrun.” — (Capella University ad, but it sums up March Madness too.)