TURKEY BOUND – Ilyasova, Delfino Buck-ing up against Hawks

ATLANTA (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Milwaukee's sensational rookie Brandon Jennings led the Bucks to a 91-87 come-from-behind win at Atlanta in the Eastern Conference play-offs on Wednesday.

Two of his teammates that are headed to the FIBA World Championship in Turkey this summer, however, made crucial baskets with the first-round series game on the line.

Trailing 82-81 with 1:59 to go, Turkey international Ersan Ilyasova made a tough shot in the lane.

Forty-five seconds later and Ilyasova crashed the boards to rebound a Jennings miss and passed to Argentina's Carlos Delfino in the left corner in front of the Hawks bench where he buried a three-pointer for an 85-81 lead.

The Bucks, having trailed by nine points, ended the contest with an 18-4 run and can now advance to the next round if they win Game 6 in Milwaukee.

Jennings, a 20-year-old who was playing for Lottomatica Roma this time last year in his first season of professional basketball, finished with 25 points, four rebounds and three assists.

He isn't in the USA Basketball national team squad for 2010-12 but looks certain to have a future with the Americans.

Delfino and Ilyasova each scored seven points.

Nuggets stay alive

The Denver Nuggets returned home to the Pepsi Center in Colorado and beat the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of their Western Conference play-off series.

Team USA's Carmelo Anthony had 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals as Denver prevailed 116-102.

The contest was tight before Denver finished the game on a 22-10 run.

They ended up hitting nine of 17 shots from long range.

Utah's United States internationals Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams played very well.

Boozer finished with 25 points and 16 boards while Williams led all scorers with 34 points.

Williams dished out 10 assists for the Jazz, who will host Game 6 back in Salt Lake City.

Denver's Brazil international Nene had to leave the game in the first half when he sprained his left knee.

FIBA