"The first comparison that came to Mo Williams was the scene from the comedy Talladega Nights, when race car driver Ricky Bobby was interviewed after a big race.

Will Ferrell, who played the character in the movie, kept grabbing at the microphone and wasn't sure what to do with his hands.

And so it was Wednesday with Williams, who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, then didn't know what to do with himself. This was a team that last season routinely danced, created goofy celebrations and inside jokes and became a touring comedy club. Now suddenly, its best remaining player didn't know what to do with himself after winning a big game.

Williams ran into some teammates' arms, then jumped up on the scorer's table.

''The last thing you're thinking about is what you're going to do after the shot,'' Williams said. ''It's almost like Talladega Nights - you don't know what to do with your hands.''

The big shot came at a big time for Williams, who has struggled through the first few weeks of the season. A groin injury kept him out for most of training camp and all but one preseason game.

Just as he was rounding into game shape, his father-in-law died near the end of October.

After beginning to find his rhythm in this new offensive scheme, he injured his other groin and missed a couple more weeks. Then he sprained his thumb Saturday night at San Antonio.

All of it seems to be taking a toll on Williams, a self-admitted emotional person who tends to play - either well or poorly - off those emotions. Williams has seemed distant at times this season. He begged not to be dealt over the summer, when his name kept popping up in trade rumors, but that was before LeBron James left for Miami.

Suddenly, Williams' best chance at a championship was gone, leaving him behind as the new leader of a rebuilding team. It's a role he says he accepts, and Wednesday he proved capable of handling it when his floater over an outstretched Brandon Jennings dropped through perfectly."