ARG – Sharp-shooting Delfino battling with Bucks

MILWAUKEE (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Carlos Delfino put on a shooting display in Milwaukee’s play-off win over Atlanta on Monday that has people buzzing all over the Americas.

His six three-pointers from eight attempts helped fire the Bucks to a 111-104 triumph that leveled the first-round series at 2-2.

Delfino helped keep Milwaukee firmly in the hunt for a place in the next round of the post-season, and also reminded everyone that Argentina will have one of the international game's most explosive players in their line-up when they go up against Serbia, Australia, Germany, Angola and Jordan in the Preliminary Round of the FIBA World Championship.

Asked about his 22-point night against the Hawks, Delfino smiled and said: "When you hit your first shot, your whole confidence changes.

"Fortunately I helped the team in a big way, and it feels great to tie up the series."

Delfino hit three of his shots from long range in the first quarter.

Milwaukee, despite the injuries that have sidelined their Australia international Andrew Bogut, are showing they are a very dangerous team.

Delfino’s scoring eruption has filled the team with confidence.

The team’s rookie point guard, Brandon Jennings, said: "When Delfino plays like that, we're a team that's hard to stop. He set the tone for us."

Delfino, 27, was a major part of the Argentina success story two summers ago in Beijing, when the number one side in the FIBA World Rankings upset Lithuania in the bronze-medal game.

In that contest, with Manu Ginobili having been knocked out of their Semi-Final defeat to Team USA with an injury, Delfino picked up the slack.

He had his second best game at the Olympics, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

His finest hour had come in the last-second 80-78 triumph over Greece in the Quarter-Finals when he drilled five of eight three-pointers and finished with 23 points.

FIBA