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Atlanta, GA

Columbus Crew starting Jacen Russell-Rowe vs. Atlanta United displays the club’s depth

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Columbus Crew starting Jacen Russell-Rowe vs. Atlanta United displays the club’s depth


Crew coach Wilfried Nancy has never shied away from mixing up the starting 11.

“My decision could be, regarding the chemistry, regarding the interactions between few players,” Nancy said. “But after that, I can have a decision also about the profile, reading the profile. … So, it depends. There was a lot of things that I’m going to have to see and adjust.”

On Saturday in Columbus’ season opener against Atlanta United, the second-year coach opted to start forward Jacen Russell-Rowe over Alex Matan and Christian Ramirez.

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Though Matan, who started every playoff game last season, had just returned to full training on the Monday before the match after he “felt something in his quad,” Nancy stated that the decision to start the 21-year-old wasn’t the injury. Rather, it was based on that day’s matchup. Against Atlanta, Nancy thought, Russell-Rowe could succeed.

In his 75 minutes of play, Russell-Rowe took three shot attempts, two missing far left. The lone score of Columbus’ 1-0 victory came off the boot of striker Cucho Hernandez. Despite a stat line showing no goals, Russell-Rowe remains confident.

“It comes from within,” Russell-Rowe said. “I’m a striker and I can’t be worried about scoring my chances. It’s hard to explain it, but I know I’m going to score my chances, and I have to think that way. I can’t think ‘what if I miss?’ or ‘what if the next one doesn’t go in?’ I just have to focus on when I get my next chance, I’m going to score.”

Russell-Rowe felt the start was a reward for a strong training camp performance. After his first full season with the first team in which he scored four goals across 21 regular-season games that included four starts, the forward has been continuing to integrate into the main group during the preseason.

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“Coming in confident and then building better relationships with the other forwards, other players,” Russell-Rowe said. “People I didn’t really have a strong relationship with, coming into this season, and I think that helped me a lot, just feel comfortable on the field.”

Before the start of the season, Nancy stated that there are a number of players with different playing styles who can fill in at left forward. In addition to Russell-Rowe, Matan and Ramirez, there’s Columbus newcomer Marino Hinestroza.

Signed in the offseason from Club de Futbol Pachuca of Liga MX, the 21-year-old Hinestroza brings an ability to handle the ball and go one-on-one with the defense. He’s a greater attacking threat than the other options at the position.

Hinestroza and Russell-Rowe are younger talents who can capitalize on the fact that Columbus will have a heavy schedule this season. Matan and Ramirez bring experience and proven success with the club. Ramirez scored two game-winning goals in the postseason.

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“The biggest message that I think I keep playing in my mind is there’s so many times in our career where we want more games and more opportunities, so that everybody can get involved,” Ramirez said. “The potential and possibility of having so many games is really exciting. … When everybody’s opportunity comes, to fully grasp that and show what you can do. “

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

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Atlanta, GA

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

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Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta


Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)

San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.

The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.

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The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.

The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.

Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

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Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Atlanta, GA

Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat

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Flood watch expands into metro Atlanta ahead of severe storm threat


A powerful weather front is moving into metro Atlanta, prompting officials to expand flood watches as “wave-after-wave” of heavy rain threatens to saturate the region through Saturday.

The FOX 5 Storm Team warn that storm totals could reach four inches in some areas, with isolated spots in North Georgia potentially seeing up to six inches.

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Flood Watch in northwest Georgia

What we know:

A Flood Watch is currently in effect through Saturday evening for a large portion of North Georgia. The region is bracing for widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches. Some areas could see locally higher amounts reaching up to 6 inches before a cold front moves through Saturday afternoon to end the threat.

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“The rain train is wide open and here it comes,” said FOX 5 Storm Team chief meteorologist David Chandley. “We got waves of rain tonight and storms. They’re going to be with us tonight and right on through Saturday.”

In the northwest, the watch includes Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Towns, Union, Walker, White, and Whitfield counties.

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KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST BY DOWNLOADING THE FREE FOX 5 STORM TEAM APP AND FOLLOWING @FOX5STORMTEAM ON X

Flooding risk, high winds

Local perspective:

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Thunderstorms expected overnight and into early Saturday morning are a primary concern. 

The primary concern for North Georgia remains damaging winds and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. While the threat of severe weather is lower Friday night, the FOX 5 Storm Team expects conditions to change as the front arrives Saturday morning.

“Flooding [is] possible in Northwest Georgia with that severe threat,” Chandley said. “I expect we may see some of those [flash flood warnings] across North Georgia late tonight and early tomorrow because that ground is going to be saturated.”

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A Level 1 “marginal risk” for severe storms has been issued for most of the area, though regions near Columbus face a slightly higher “slight risk.” Forecasters noted that while the atmosphere currently lacks the instability for massive thunderstorms, a “brief, spin-up tornado” cannot be ruled out on Saturday.

What’s next:

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Sunday: Windy and much colder, with highs struggling to reach the 40s and 50s.

Monday: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning.

The Source: This article contains an original forecast by the FOX 5 Storm Team.

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Atlanta, GA

Serious crashes block Atlanta’s Downtown Connector, Lawrenceville Highway early Friday

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Serious crashes block Atlanta’s Downtown Connector, Lawrenceville Highway early Friday


A major crash involving eight vehicles shut down all southbound lanes of the Downtown Connector early Friday morning, causing significant traffic delays near University Avenue.

What we know:

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The crash was reported on Interstate 75/Interstate 85 just before University Avenue, with injuries confirmed at the scene. Traffic was being diverted off the connector at Interstate 20, Exit 247, while the entrance ramp from I-20 to the connector southbound was also closed. Drivers were advised to use Exit 56A to McDaniel Street or alternate routes including Metropolitan Parkway or Interstate 285. The scene was cleared and lanes began reopening around 6:30 a.m. FOX 5 Atlanta is waiting for a final report on what happened. 

A separate serious injury crash was also reported in DeKalb County on Lawrenceville Highway westbound between Montreal Road and Interstate 285. All lanes were blocked, and authorities said the incident involved a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Both investigations were ongoing. The scene was cleared and lanes reopened around 6:45 a.m., according to Georgia Department of Transportation. 

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