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Vučević passed physical and cardiovascular tests almost immediately after his 11-day quarantine for COVID-19. The center struggled to regain fitness quickly after not being allowed to run, lift or shoot for nearly two weeks, but he hasn’t reported any lingering effects. In the weeks since his return, Vučević averaged 17.8 points in 32 minutes per game, recording a season-high 30-point performance against Charlotte 18 days after returning his first positive test.

Western governments, including the U.S., Australia and Britain, have increasingly criticized Beijing for human rights abuses against its Uyghur minority in the northwest Xinjiang province, which some have called genocide. They have also spoken out against Beijing’s suppression of democratic protests in Hong Kong. Rights groups have called for a full-blown boycott of the Beijing Winter Games.

“(Utah) always ran a lot of plays for me, just to spot up or run from screens,” Plummer said. “Here, it’s different. I feel like here I’ve got the ball more in my hands, I can create situations for my teammates, I can move more in the court. It’s more of a playmaking, shot-creator vibe.”

Brooklyn: The Nets are missing Kyrie Irving, who can’t play unless he changes his mind and gets a COVID-19 vaccine, which seems unlikely at this point. Kevin Durant is putting up MVP numbers, but the Nets are suffering from the inconsistent play of James Harden, who shot 5-for-21 on Saturday in their loss to the Bulls. The Nets (16-7) are 0-6 against the top teams they’ve played (the Bulls, Warriors, Suns, Bucks and Heat) and feasting on everyone else. If Irving comes back before the playoffs, will the Nets have enough time to get acclimated to playing with him?

Pinning the whole thing on Fields isn’t fair and isn’t an accurate way of describing the situation, but when you’re talking about the roster and the Bears’ ability to contend for a playoff spot, he’s absolutely the most critical piece of the puzzle. His rookie season has been up and down, and the Bears desperately need to be better offensively in 2022 if they want to win. While they’re doing that, they have to pay attention to a defense that is a shadow of what it was when Matt Nagy came on board in 2018. There’s a lot of work to do, and while I wish I could provide a more definitive answer, too many unknowns cloud the future. In a best-case scenario, the Bears are a threat in 2023 with young players in place who give them a chance to grow and improve. With a shortage of draft capital in 2022, that will be challenging.

Photos of the Chicago Blackhawks’ 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez) Players check on Jujhar Khaira (16) as he’s taken off the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) knocks Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira (16) onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) knocks Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira (16) onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) knocks Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira (16) onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) knocks Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira (16) onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) knocks Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira (16) onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Players fight after Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba knocked Blackhawks center Jujhar Khaira onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks players kneel on the ice after Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba knocked Jujhar Khaira onto the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Jujhar Khaira (16) is taken off the ice during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman (61) fights with Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) celebrates with his team after scoring during the first period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) skates during the first period against the Rangers at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) falls on Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalík (8) during the first period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter (22) chases after the puck during the first period against the Rangers at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks players celebrate after defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) scored during the first period against the Rangers at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) scores past Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter (22) and goaltender Marc-André Fleury (29) during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates with Mika Zibanejad (93) and Chris Kreider (20) after scoring past Blackhawks goaltender Marc-André Fleury (29) during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers right wing Julien Gauthier (15) falls into Blackhawks defenseman Riley Stillman (61) during the second period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter (22) and Rangers center Ryan Strome (16) fight during the third period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Blackhawks center Ryan Carpenter (22) and Rangers center Ryan Strome (16) fight during the third period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers players celebrate with center Kevin Rooney (17) after he scored a goal during the third period at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Rangers fans applaud near the end of the team’s 6-2 victory over the Blackhawks at the United Center on Dec. 7, 2021. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Assistant offensive line coach Donovan Raiola is expected to be named the offensive line coach at Nebraska, according to an NFL source and a report by the Lincoln Journal Star. With college recruiting season in full swing, he is expected to leave the Bears soon for Lincoln, Neb. — likely before the end of the week.

Richard Black, chief of police in the 1,600-person town of Reform, Ala., told WWL he reached out to Foster’s family about the ex-NFLer’s erratic behavior. Foster’s father, Glenn Foster Sr., said his son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 20.

The proposed ordinance would allow Soldier Field, pictured in 2018, to set up a sports betting operation on site or within five blocks, as could Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, the United Center and Wintrust Arena. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)

Ayo Dosunmu, center left, is embraced by his brother Yakub after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the NBA Draft, during a watch party at Bracket Room, 1315 S. Halsted St., Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)