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Jeff Hawkins

Sports Editor

About

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.

Articles by Jeff Hawkins (9881)

Oklahoma 88, Oklahoma State 76

NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma always seems to find an unlikely hero for Bedlam home games. So it was again Monday night, when reserve forward Tyler Neal pumped in a season-high 15 points, helping fuel the Sooners’ 88-76 win over rival Oklahoma State before a soldout crowd at Lloyd Noble Center. Forward Ryan Spangler dominated inside […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Timberwolves top Jazz with whole lot of Love

SALT LAKE CITY — Maybe Kevin Love should play center more often. The All-Star posted his first career triple-double and the Minnesota Timberwolves opened a five-game road trip with a 121-104 blowout victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Love, starting at center because of Minnesota injuries, finished with 37 points, […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Reviewing the Nurkic Trade: Denver’s Perspective

The Denver Nuggets have been on a miraculous run this postseason, but that doesn’t mean that they’re infallible. Drew Maresca reviews the 2017 trade that sent Jusuf Nurkic from Denver to Portland.

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Is The NBA Becoming Too Soft?

Kobe Bryant was critical of how “soft” the NBA has become. While the product is still entertaining, he has a point.

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Bluegrass state rivals seek Elite status

Louisville and Kentucky are not friendly rivals, but players downplayed that factor entering Friday’s Midwest Regional semifinal matchup, a rematch of Kentucky’s victory in December. Coach John Calipari is 5-1 against Cardinals coach Rick Pitino since joining the Wildcats. “If you aren’t from Kentucky, you don’t understand it,” Kentucky sophomore center Willie Cauley-Stein said. “It’s […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
NBA roundup: Celtics’ Garnett plans to return next week

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Garnett is targeting early next week for his return from back spasms that have sidelined him for the past 16 games. Garnett plans to return against Philadelphia on Saturday, or for one of the Nets’ back-to-back games at Miami on April 8 or at Orlando the following night, according to Newsday. […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Duke 66, Virginia Tech 48

DURHAM, N.C. — Forward Rodney Hood scored 21 points and sixth-ranked Duke finally put away last-place Virginia Tech with a 66-48 victory on Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon scored 15 points as the Blue Devils capped a grueling stretch of the schedule with another victory. Forward Jabari Parker had 11 […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Gophers need OT to edge Seminoles in NIT semis

NEW YORK — With his famous father sitting behind him in the Madison Square Garden stands, 32-year-old Minnesota coach Richard Pitino guided the Golden Gophers to a 67-64 overtime win over Florida State in the semifinals of the NIT on Tuesday. Minnesota (24-13) faces SMU in Thursday’s final. The Mustangs (27-9) defeated Clemson 65-59 in […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
No. 9 Villanova extends Georgetown’s skid

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Villanova head coach Jay Wright called forward Daniel Ochefu “probably our best defensive player” after the Wildcats beat Georgetown 65-60 Monday in a physical Big East Conference game. And Wright said Ochefu, from nearby Baltimore, is also a standout passer. But Ochefu is adding another weapon to his arsenal, as he made […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021
Pacers 108, Hawks 98

INDIANAPOLIS — All-Star forward Paul George scored 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and forward David West had 17 points and six rebounds as the Indiana Pacers downed the Atlanta Hawks 108-98 on Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana (41-12) got off to a quick start in the second half of the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  15 Oct 2021