Brandin Cooks, Stephon Gilmore Among Strong Patriots Crew At Celtics’ Game 5

BOSTON — Tom Brady isn’t the only New England Patriot showing the Celtics some love during their playoff run.

A host of Patriots players made their way to TD Garden on Wednesday night for Boston’s crucial Game 5 matchup against the Chicago Bulls in their first-round series.

While the crowd gave it up for quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo, running back James White, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, linebacker Rob Ninkovich and offensive linemen David Andrews and Cameron Fleming, their biggest applause was reserved for two New England newcomers: wide receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

https://twitter.com/OnlyInBOS/status/857405410030088198

Not a bad way to indoctrinate yourself to the Boston sports scene.

Cooks and Gilmore, both high-profile free acquisitions by the Patriots this offseason, likely were impressed by the playoff atmosphere at the Garden — Cooks is coming from New Orleans, where Pelicans have missed the playoffs in two straight seasons, while Gilmore comes over from Buffalo, which doesn’t even have an NBA team.

Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images