BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics played without new addition Al Horford for the first time this season on Wednesday night.Thanks to Isaiah Thomas and Amir Johnson, they didnt miss a beat.Thomas had 23 points and 10 assists, Johnson finished 23 points -- including a career-high four 3-pointers -- and the Boston Celtics handed the Chicago Bulls their first loss of the season, 107-100.Boston avenged its lone setback of the season despite being without Horford, who was placed in the concussion protocol Tuesday after exhibiting concussive symptoms during practice.Johnson was active from all over the court, scoring 16 points in the third quarter. The Bulls managed just 18 points in the period, their lowest scoring quarter of the season.I just made the first one and my confidence got a little higher, Johnson said of his 3-point performance. When I knocked down the fourth one, I dont even think I even saw the basket.The Bulls cut into what had been a 16-point Boston lead in the fourth quarter and tied it at 100 on two free throws by Nikola Mirotic. But Boston regained the lead 101-100, then went up five on a driving layup by Thomas and a basket by Marcus Smart.Jimmy Butler led Chicago with 23 points and nine rebounds.Before Wednesday Johnson had never made more than two 3-pointers in a game and had never attempted more than four. He entered the night 0 for 1 on the season.Boston led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but took only a two-point lead into halftime.After a slow start, Jae Crowder scored eight straight points during a 21-4 Boston run. The Bulls stayed in it via a few mini spurts, including an 8-0 run by Butler.But Crowder will join Horford on the injured list after he left in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. Coach Brad Stevens said he doesnt expect Crowder back any time soon.Its a great opportunity for everybody else, Stevens said. Were early in the season, so everybody gets a chance to step up and make plays and compete. And well see. Well try to figure it out.TIP-INSBulls: G Michael Carter-Williams (left knee bruise, left wrist sprain) and Doug McDermott both sat out. Coach Fred Hoiberg said McDermott felt good, but that he hadnt gone 24 hours without experiencing symptoms yet.Celtics: Tyler Zeller started in place of Horford. ... Stevens said Horford would also sit out Bostons game Thursday against the Cavaliers. A teammate inadvertently swiped Horford in the face with the ball during practice on Monday, but Horford didnt show any initial symptoms. But he experienced some nausea in practice on Tuesday and was pulled.QUOTABLEWe fought our way back in the second quarter to get back in it. (Johnson) had a hell of a third quarter. I like the fight in this team. We gave ourselves a chance to win. -- Dwyane Wade on the Bulls second-half effort.NUMBERS GAMEThe Bulls outrebounded the Celtics 49-39 but they had 19 turnovers that led to 18 Boston points.BIG QUARTERThe Celtics 36 points in the first quarter were the most in a period for Boston this season. Its previous high was 33.WELCOME BACK MR. ROSEHoiberg said he thinks former Bulls guard Derrick Rose to get a good reception when he returns to the United Center later this week. I think he should be received well, Hoiberg said. Derrick did a lot of good things for the city and for the franchise. I think hell be received very well.UP NEXTBulls: They host the Knicks on Friday night in Roses first game back in Chicago since being traded to New York this offseason.Celtics: They head to Cleveland on Thursday for their first matchup of the season against the defending champions.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightowerYeezy Powerphase Cz .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Adidas Nmd Levně Damske . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. http://www.botynmdlevne.com/adidas-nmd-damske-levne.html . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Boty Nmd Levne . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Adidas Nmd Dámské Levně . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets quarterback competition is still wide open -- with no clear-cut winner in sight. Rex Ryan isnt sure whether itll be Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith, and hes in no rush to decide. Its only minicamp, after all, and preseason games are still two months away. And thats when the Jets might get a better idea of wholl be under centre for them in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Maybe. "Well know when we know," quarterbacks coach David Lee said Wednesday, "but we dont know right now." That about sums it all up when it comes to the quarterbacks -- and its not necessarily a bad thing. Its just that neither Sanchez nor Smith have pulled away yet. Lee said both players have taken turns looking good and then "real good" and then not too good at all. "Theyve done it together and they havent made it easy," said Lee, in his first season with New York. "They wont separate right now, but weve got time." While some would expect Sanchez, going into his fifth season, to be clearly ahead of Smith, a second-round pick out of West Virginia, both players are still learning offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinwegs West Coast-style offence. "Well continue to look at both of them, split reps, and as soon as we know, Hey, hes the guy, well let you know," Lee said. "But right now, we dont know." Sanchez has worked extensively on holding onto the ball to limit turnovers, which have plagued him the last two seasons. He had 52 of them -- 26 in each year -- during that period and it has cost the Jets some games. So, Lee has focused on having Sanchez grasp the ball with both hands, leaving his left hand on the ball as he drops back. "Yesterday was the first time he kept two hands on the ball," Lee said, "and thats after nine OTAs and a minicamp." And, thats not all: The Jets run through a "gauntlet" drill during which they try to knock the football loose. Oh, and its called "The Sanchez Drill." "He hates it," Lee said. Through it all, Sanchez still insists he is having his best off-season as a pro, and is feeling increasingly more comfortable working in Mornhinwegs system. "I just love what were doing," Sanchez said. "When youre excited about something like that, when youre coming in hanging on the guys every word, knowing that hes had so much success, knowing that we have the pieces here to put ourselves in a position to have success like that, its exciting. Its exciting stuff. "So, it makes you work that much harder and find a way to just improve on the little things each and every day and keep rolling." Sanchez has made it clear to his coaches that hes taking this competition seriously, and he fully intends to keep his starting job -- even if some media and fans believe his time in New York is nearly up. "I think maybe there was some kind of notion that Id be so upset they would draft a quarterback, that whole deal, that Id just turn it in," Sanchez said. "Thats crazy. Its crazy talk." Smith, meanwhile, is a work-in-progress who has focused on his footwork and accuracy, among other things. "Its been a brand-new world every day," Lee said of Smith. "Just struggling with the basic things, snap count at the line of scrimmage, the delivery at the line of scrimmage could be more consistent, little things are whats really killing him.dddddddddddd. But hes competed well and hes showing a really good arm and he gets better every day, and hes going to hear it all for the second time during training camp, so I expect him to get even better quicker." Smith ran the first-team offence during the second practice of minicamp Wednesday, as the Jets have been rotating the quarterbacks throughout the off-season practices. "I mean, Ive improved, subtle improvements," Smith said. "But you wont know until you actually get some reps in live-game situations. But from the point I was when I got here to the point I am now, I have improved. But theres still a long ways to go. Ryan indicated that the Jets could be open to having Smith run some read-option plays -- despite it not working with Tim Tebow last season -- if Sanchez wins the starting job. "I know what everybodys thinking if we did that, ugh, didnt we try that last year?" Ryan said. "I think certainly thats a possibility. To probably make assumptions now probably isnt the thing to do. Well let this thing pan out and well see." Smith didnt have running plays designed for him at West Virginia, but his athleticism made him a threat to make plays outside the pocket -- something that could translate in the NFL. "Thats a part of my game," he said. "I like to think my game is based within the pocket. I do things within the pocket, but I can use my athletic abilities outside of it. I think thats a part of being an all-around player and I think it helps me a lot." After Thursdays minicamp session, the Jets have no formal practices together until training camp in Cortland, N.Y., at the end of July. Most players say theyll mostly remain close to the facility and continue working out and learning their playbooks. Sanchez will also put together his annual "Jets West" camp with the skill position players on offence at his former high school in Mission Viejo, Calif. Smith said he had no comment on whether he would attend the session, but Sanchez later said that everyones invited -- as they always are. Meanwhile, at least one Jets player had a prediction on who will be the teams starting quarterback when the season starts. "I think (Sanchez) is going to be our guy," said wide receiver Santonio Holmes, recovering from a foot injury that has kept him off the field since early last season. "The coaches brought him back and they kept him on this team for a reason. Hes a great leader and hes got great potential and hes excited about this season upcoming. And, so am I." Notes: RB Mike Goodson did not practice after spending the morning at a court hearing in Morristown to be informed that the drug and weapons case against him is heading to a grand jury. Goodson and a friend were arrested last month after they were found in a car stopped on Interstate 80. Goodson has pleaded not guilty. ... Lee said backup QB Matt Simms, son of former Giants star Phil, has "a cannon for an arm," adding that its the "best arm" of the Jets four quarterbacks on the roster. "If his accuracy was better," Lee said, "hed be thicker in the hunt." ' ' '