Game 2 preview: Celtics look to take an even bigger edge in first-round series vs. 76ers

“Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t made one block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done [expletive]. If you don’t have the guys to put you in position, it doesn’t really matter.” After the game on Sunday, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla was named a finalist for the coach of the year award . When asked about the honor on Monday, he demurred. How do the Celtics follow their pummeling of the 76ers on Sunday ? We’ll find out when Game 2 in this first-round playoff series tips off on Tuesday night at TD Garden. But they’ve done enough to have Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in position to take a bigger lead in this best-of-seven series. The only Celtic on the injury report is Ron Harper Jr., who is probable with a right ankle sprain. He played four minutes in Game 1. Stat of the day: The Sixers shot 17.4 percent (4 of 23) from three in Game 1. Notes: Brown scored 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the floor, while Tatum — playing in just his 17th game since returning last month from a ruptured Achilles tendon — finished with 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished seven assists. ... The Celtics held the Sixers to just 35-of-90 field-goal shooting (38.9 percent). ... While Game 1 was a defensive masterclass from the Celtics, Tatum said they cannot let up against a potentially prolific Philadelphia side in Game 2. “They have some really talented scorers over there, especially with [Tyrese] Maxey and [Paul] George,” he said. “Kelly [Oubre Jr.[ rained five [3-pointers] in the play-in game.” ... Maxey, who earned an All-Star nomination en route to averaging 28.3 points per game in the regular season, finished with a team-high 21 points Sunday. George added 17, but no other Sixer managed more than rookie VJ Edgecombe’s 13 points. “I don’t think we matched physicality [or] toughness,” George said. “There was just no resistance at a lot of times throughout the game. That’s just not playoff basketball.” ... Philadelphia will continue to seek interior offensive contributions as the Sixers adjust to playing without former MVP Joel Embiid. The big man underwent an emergency appendectomy while on a road trip in Texas during the final week of the regular season. His status for the series against Boston is undetermined. ... Embiid averaged 26.9 points per game during the regular season. His fill-ins at center on Sunday — the youngster Adem Bona and veteran Andre Drummond — scored three and two points, respectively. Information from Field Level Media was used in this report Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her on Instagram at @katiemac.sports.