Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown blasted his team’s choice to intentionally foul Chicago Bulls big Andre Drummond in order to advance to the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament quarterfinals.

Drummond, a career 48% free-throw shooter, was purposefully put to the line twice in back-to-back plays during the Celtics’ 124-97 win against the Bulls on Tuesday. Boston led by 29 points in the first game and 32 points in the second.

“It’s tough because that’s just not how the game is supposed to be played,” Brown remarked following the game. “For one thing, you have to respect your opponents, and for another, it’s just a strange setup.” We understand the regulations, but if I were on the opposing side, I would be irritated as well when we did the ‘Hack-a-Drummond’ in the middle of the fourth quarter. But our coaching staff made the call, and we’re sticking to it.”

Boston fouled Drummond on purpose in order to maintain the greatest possible point differential. Despite having the same record (3-1) as the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics won East Group C with a point differential of 27. Because the Nets were playing the Toronto Raptors at the same moment, the club didn’t know what mark it required.

According to The Athletic’s Jay King, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla apologized to Drummond after the game. The second time Drummond was called to the line, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan addressed Mazzulla.

“(Donovan) had no idea the implications of what was going on in the Brooklyn-Toronto game,” Mazzulla told King. “And so I just had to explain to him, ‘This is what our people are telling us, this is what we have to do, this is the process towards protecting our lead that gives us the best chance to win and advance.'”

Donovan said that he understood the Celtics’ strategy but attacked the NBA’s regulations.

“I understand (Mazulla’s) circumstance. “He has to coach his team and do the right thing,” Donovan told ESPN. “But I think it was putting Andre in a difficult situation because he was down 30 points.” However, this is from the league. This is what the league has done by instituting the point differential.”

According to King, Drummond described the decision to send him to the line as “part of the game” and refused to answer questions about it.

The Celtics will face the Indiana Pacers in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals on December 4.