Bulls’ Billy Donovan Objects to Celtics Running Up Score for NBA In-Season Tournament

Boston had to win by at least 23 points to advance in the standings.

The NBA in-season tournament has brought some sizzle to early-season games that might not otherwise attract attention beyond diehard basketball fans. 

Tuesday night’s Bulls-Celtics matchup featured some tension between the teams’ head coaches due to the tournament’s rules regarding point differentials. Boston came into the game needing to win by at least 23 points to move ahead of the Magic and Nets in the Eastern Conference Group C standings. All three teams have a 3–1 record in the tournament.

With their 124–97 victory, the Celtics advanced to the quarterfinal round. However, Bulls coach Billy Donovan didn’t like the strategy applied by Boston coach Joe Mazzulla to gain the point differential necessary to overtake Orlando and Brooklyn. 

The Celtics had a 32-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and intentionally fouled Chicago’s Andre Drummond. The veteran center is shooting 56% on free throws this season and has a career 48% from the line. So the strategy was to prevent the Bulls from scoring and for Boston to get the ball back quickly on offense. 

Celtics were intentionally fouling Andre Drummond while up 32 POINTS with 7:02 in the 4Q

Joe Mazzulla had to explain to Billy Donovan they needed to win by 23 to have a chance to advance 😂 pic.twitter.com/4rEoWvHfus

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 29, 2023

After the game, Donovan acknowledged the Celtics’ point differential objectives but didn’t like taking advantage of Drummond to achieve them. 

“He’s got to coach his team and do what he feels is right,” Donovan said of Mazzulla. “Play all the way to the end. I got no problem with that. I just thought it was putting Andre in a tough spot in a 30-point game. I didn’t like that.”

Billy Donovan did not like the Celtics decision to purposefully foul Andre Drummond in the fourth quarter.

Ceded that teams have to chase point differential, but felt that crossed the line.

“I just felt bad for Andre in that situation.” pic.twitter.com/ZmGuwX6Y6r

— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) November 29, 2023

Additionally, Donovan expressed concern that the in-season tournament rules might put stars like Jayson Tatum at risk by continuing to play them and score needed points in a blowout.

The Celtics will face the Pacers on Monday (Dec. 4) in the tournament quarterfinals. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the matchup will be televised on TNT.