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CHICAGO -- For much of the young season, the Chicago Bulls havent had trouble keeping defensive pressure on opposing teams.The constant pressure, coupled with a blend of balanced scoring and an up-tempo style of play, led to a flawless start and three straight wins. But when the Bulls surrendered 36 first-quarter points in a 107-100 loss to the Boston Celtics Wednesday night, it resulted in an uphill climb the Bulls couldnt manage to finish.We could just never quite get over the hump, coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after the Bulls dropped their first loss of the season.The Bulls hope to solve their defensive lapses Friday when they host the New York Knicks at the United Center. The Knicks have experienced defensive issues of their own of late, which have mounted in New York dropping three of its first four games.The Knicks sustained their second straight double-digit loss Wednesday in a 118-99 drubbing at the hands of the Houston Rockets. Already struggling to establish offensive rhythm under first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks defensive struggles have been even more alarming.In each of its first four games, New York has allowed no fewer than 102 points, which has been a problem and could pose one against the Bulls, who have twice scored 118 points and have found plenty of production not only from its starting lineup headlined by Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo, but from its bench.New Knicks guard Derrick Rose -- who will make his return to Chicago along with former Bulls teammate Joakim Noah Friday -- told reporters after the loss to Houston that things had to change if the Knicks hope to reverse their course.Its nothing but defense, Rose said Wednesday night. If we dont come out and play defense, were going to keep getting smacked like this.The frustrations are apparent with Rose, who was part of some Chicago teams during his tenure with the Bulls that thrived on keeping plenty of pressure on opposing teams. So now that hes on the opposite end of the spectrum with the Knicks, Rose understands what is at the core of New Yorks problems.Ive been on teams where were building a culture here -- were trying to bring a defensive culture here, Rose told reporters. Trying to make something last and establish something. It takes time.While Chicago has its share of new faces and is still experimenting to get the on-floor chemistry right, Hoiberg is hoping that Wednesday nights defensive struggles against the Celtics can be fixed.Among the Bulls biggest issues was defending the perimeter as the Celtics were able to find their range behind the 3-point arc and connected on 14 of their 32 attempts.Hoiberg liked the way his team battled back from a pair of double-digit deficits to tie the game at 100 in the closing minutes, he lamented the fact that the Bulls simply didnt do enough defensively to keep themselves in the game.We werent contesting shots, Hoiberg told reporters. We had a guy there, he was two or three steps behind as opposed to getting (shooters) into a long two or force them into the help (defense) where theyd have to make another pass.I just thought we gave them too many dare shots.Ozzie Newsome Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Baker Mayfield Youth Jersey . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.com/Youth-Joe-Thomas-Elite-Jersey/ . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Sheldrick Redwine Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Greedy Williams Youth Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Toronto Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey was feeling a bit nostalgic even without his best stuff. Adam Lind and Colby Rasmus just hit the ball hard. Lind and Rasmus both hit two-run homers while Dickey worked into the sixth inning against his original team, as the Blue Jays stretched their winning streak to four games with a 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. "This was a game when I didnt have my best knuckleball. I had a good enough one to survive the outing, but not much more," Dickey said. It was in Texas eight years ago that Dickey started using the knuckleball as his primary pitch. He won the NL Cy Young Award last year pitching for the New York Mets, and is having an up-and-down first season with the Blue Jays. Though he allowed 10 base runners (seven singles and three walks), Dickey allowed only one run over 5 2-3 innings. "Even when hes not at his best, he competes," manager John Gibbons said. "He battled, got out of some jams." Even with the unexpected early return of second baseman Ian Kinsler from his rehabilitation assignment, the Rangers season-long losing streak reached five games. All of those losses are at home, and theyve dropped 10 of 14 overall to fall out of first place in the AL West. They have scored only six runs the past five games, and were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position Saturday. "Its just simple baseball, getting base hits with runners in scoring position," manager Ron Washington said. "Its not just one part of the batting order. Its up and down the lineup. We gave ourselves more opportunities today than we have in the last week or so." Lind put the Blue Jays ahead to stay in the first, when his seventh homer of the season ricocheted high off pole down the right field line. Rasmus hit his 12th homer, and second in two games, in the fourth to make it 4-0. Those homers accounted for all four runs off Josh Lindblom (0-2), who went six innings on his 26th birthday. The right-hander struck out two in his third start in place of injured Alexi Ogando. Dickey (6-8) struck out three against the team that took him in the first round of the 1996 draft, and later determined that the right-hander was missing a ligament in his right elbow. "Its somewhat nostalgic to come back here," said Dickey, who also won his only other start at Rangers Ballpark as an opponent, in 2008 with Seattle. "This is where the discovery about the absence of the ligament was made, this is where I started my knuckleball career. I have a lot of great memories here, and a lot of tough memories here." Texas, which lost 8-0 on Friday night, ended a 21-inning scoring drought in the sixth. Nelson Cruz and DDavid Murphy had consecutive bloop singles before Chris McGuiness grounded a hit through the right side of the infield.dddddddddddd Cruz scored when Leonys Martin beat out a potential inning-ending double-play grounder. Martin was 3 for 4, getting the RBI on the only at-bat he didnt get a hit. His fielders choice ended Dickeys day and the longest scoreless streak by the Rangers since 25 innings in a row without a run in September 2009, also the last time they lost five games in a row at home. Texas also had the bases loaded in the fourth before McGuiness struck out to end the inning. There were two runners on with no outs in the fifth before Dickey retired the Nos. 2-4 hitters in order. "We got (Dickey) in trouble a few times. He got out of it," Washington said. "Some of it was him, but most of it was us." Kinsler, out since May 18 with a ribcage injury, was supposed to stay at Double-A Frisco for at least three games and not expected back before Sunday at the earliest. That changed when after an 11-inning game on Friday night, he declared himself healthy and ready to rejoin the team -- even after going 0 for 8 with a walk in the two rehab games. Texas had a 6 1-2-game lead in the AL West when Kinsler got hurt, but then went 11-14 without the three-time All-Star. "I was a little off early, but I felt like I had a good at-bat the last at-bat. My timing felt good," Kinsler said. "My legs didnt hurt, so theres no reason why I cant move and play defence." While he was 0 for 4 with a walk Saturday, Kinsler was involved in a couple of highlight-worthy defensive plays that ended innings without him even. putting his hand on the ball. When Lindblom deflected Josh Tholes high hopper, Kinsler scooped the ball with his glove and to first base in one motion to end the fourth. An inning later, Kinlser went toward to middle to glove Melky Cabreras grounder and was stumbling when he pushed the ball toward shortstop Elvis Andrus, who made a nice catch and pivot of his own to complete a double play. Notes: Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil got out all four batters he faced, stretching his scoreless streak to 16 innings. He has retired 24 batters in a row. ... Torontos win evened the all-time series between the teams to 195-195. ... Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes, out since April 12 because of a sprained ankle, is expected to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A Dunedin on Monday. He went through a second simulated game in Florida on Saturday, going 2 for 2 with a triple and two walks. ... Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland, rehabbing a right hamstring strain, is expected to play some games for Frisco this week. He is on track to come off the DL when eligible Friday. ' ' '