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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/khightowerCheap Air Max 270 White . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Air Max Tn Cheap Uk . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.fakeairmaxukoutlet.com/best-max-720-trainers-cheap-uk.html . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Air Max Outlet Uk . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Air Max 90 Wholesale Uk . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early.STORRS, Conn. -- Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma didnt expect his young Huskies to be undefeated six games into the season and says he has no idea what to expect this month when they face four ranked teams.The No. 2 Huskies (6-0), who returned just two starters from the team that won the programs fourth straight national title last spring, have extended the second-longest winning streak in program and womens basketball history to 81 games. And in the process, theyve already beaten three Top 25 opponents this season, including then-No. 2-ranked Baylor.UConn faces four more ranked teams before January 1, including No. 14 Texas on Sunday and No. 1 Notre Dame on Wednesday in South Bend. The Huskies also play No. 9 Ohio State and No. 5 Maryland before January.We dont have that kind of talent that just blows you away like weve had in the past, Auriemma said this week. That means that every single minute of every day, every practice at every game, theyve got to be tough, hard-nosed and really tough.UConn proved that on Thursday, dismantling No. 15 DePaul 91-46 after taking a 22-1 lead in what was supposed to be a serious test against a high-scoring offense. The Huskies defense held DePaul to 25 percent shooting.Forward Kia Nurse said she and her teammates were aware pundits thought theyd be more vulnerable this season after the graduation of stars Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. She said Auriemma has challenged this group to maintain the programs traditioon of excellence.ddddddddddddFor him to hold us to that standard and remind us that this is how UConn basketball is played, it lights a fire under us, she said. So when we get out in the next practices, the next games, shoot-arounds, we understand that is the expectation here and that is where we need to be.Sophomore Katie Lou Samuelson said the team is still learning chemistry on the court and once the players figure it out, theyll only get better.Last year we understood the three of them (Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson) would go and do what they do every game, she said. Now we have to figure out, OK, who is going to step up and take shots tonight? Who is going step up and make those passes? Its going to be different every night. So thats always difficult, but its also a great thing for our versatility.Auriemma said he doesnt know if the team will keep playing the way it did against Baylor and DePaul, and hes still not quite sure about the caliber of this group. But, he said thats normal for this time of year.And he expects to know a lot more after the run against ranked teams in December.Theres no guarantee like the past couple years that, yeah we got this, Auriemma said. Its a wait and see. Its a process. I just dont want to take any steps back. I dont know how many steps forward were going to take. I just dont want to take any steps back. ' ' '