Kings win first division title since 2003; honor equipment manager ‘Miggy’ with DPOG chain

Miguel Lopez often gets to the arena before Kings players and coaches and is the last to leave. On road trips, instead of getting off the plane and heading to the team’s swanky hotel to catch up on rest, he loads an equipment truck, takes it to the arena and sets up the visiting locker room for the next night while just about everyone with a normal day job is busy sleeping.

Then he’s among the first members of the traveling party to get to the arena the following day, after running a series of errands to make sure all the Kings players have everything they need. Lopez is known for buying things for players without them asking, sending pictures of food items or drinks from convenience stores, making sure they have everything to play their best ball.

The life of an NBA equipment manager is far from glamorous. It’s often thankless. But on Tuesday, Lopez, who has been with the organization since 2006, was thanked by way of celebration when the Kings clinched their first division title in 20 years.

Lopez was given the coveted defensive player of the game chain and was the center of the mandatory party that follows.

“Mig-gy — Mig-gy — Mig-gy!” the team chanted amid the customary smoke and laser show with a number of players and staffers wearing black and purple Pacific Division championship shirts following a 121-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Lopez got the recognition the night the Kings clinched their first division title since 2002-03 and their fifth since joining the NBA in 1949-50.

“A guy in his position doesn’t get much recognition,” Kings coach Mike Brown said afterwards. “And him and Lucas (O’Connell, the assistant equipment manager) are probably the hardest working two individuals in our organization.”

Tuesday in New Orleans captured a moment that’s been building throughout the season. Lopez’s first year working for the Kings was the first of their historic playoff drought. He was a part-time locker room attendant in 2006-07 until getting promoted to the lead role after the 2011 lockout ended. He worked in construction driving around heavy equipment before landing the job with his favorite NBA team.

Lopez is one of the few figures who have seen the organization’s struggles up close and remains at his post. He’s seen 14 head coaches come and go — along with countless players who have made stops in Sacramento. He’s never seen the team reach the playoffs until now.

“For Miguel to do what he’s done for all these years,” Brown continued, “and not experience the jubilation, the togetherness and excitement, the passion and energy that the players in the locker room have brought to the organization, to the city of Sacramento. For him to experience it this year, at least one time in his life, means the world for a guy like that.

“So to be able to celebrate him while we’re celebrating the organization and the city, it’s the right thing to do. It’s a fantastic feeling that’s hard to explain, but everybody was excited for him and he definitely deserved it.”

Added Kevin Huerter: “Miguel’s great. Miguel’s everybody’s guy. He’s the type of guy who looks out for everybody.”

Huerter was asked to name his most obscure request for Lopez.

“I don’t even ask, he just offers,” Huerter said. “And that’s happened numerous times throughout the year. ‘Hey, I’m going to CVS, do you want anything?’ So he does it for everybody. He’s somebody you can rely on. He’s been in the organization a long time, so I know this means a lot to him.”

On the court, the Kings rebounded from one of their worst losses of the season Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs, a team that will likely finish with one of the four worst records in the league this season.

Sacramento on Tuesday had a complete team effort, with De’Aaron Fox bouncing back from an 0-for-7 shooting start to finish with a team-high 23 points. Keegan Murray continued building his rookie record by hitting seven 3s, giving him 201 on the season. Domantas Sabonis added his 13th triple-double of the campaign with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Malik Monk sparked the Kings with 17 points off the bench while Sacramento was plus-23 in his 23 minutes. He was back after missing Sunday’s game with leg soreness.

Keys for Sacramento in New Orleans were physicality and defense. The Pelicans shot 44% from the floor, the lowest for an opponent in the Kings’ last eight games, not including the tanking Portland Blazers, who shot 32.3% last week with an also-ran roster made of mostly non-rotation players.

“I think this is the perfect response,” Fox said. “Like (Brown) told us after the game, he expects that out of us. We’ve talked about it before. We know we’re capable. We know we’ve done it, but I think without a doubt this is the best defensive game we’ve had the entire season.”

Sacramento was tasked with slowing one of the hottest scorers in the NBA. Brandon Ingram came in averaging 30.8 points over his previous five games. He scored 14 in the first quarter, but then had just four in the second and third combined. He finished with just 22.

The Kings threw a slew of different looks at him, including double-teams and switches. Harrison Barnes and Kessler Edwards spent the majority of the night on him.

“Let’s just try to make him work, try to get up in his chest,” Brown said. “Try to contest all his shots. We’re not going to block his shots because he’s so long and talented. But if he has to work for his shots, then we’ve done our job. And if that ball goes through the net or comes off the rim, let’s go right back at them. Let’s push the pace and make sure he has to work, not just to get his points, but in transition as well.”

The Pelicans came in needing the win. They entered Tuesday one of four teams tied in the loss column for seeds five through eight in the Western Conference. They had won seven of their last eight.

The Kings had a rough film session going over their defensive lapses in their home loss to the Spurs, which helped set the tone for Tuesday’s game on the road.

“It wasn’t long, but it was brutal,” Fox said.

Added Huerter: “It was productive. It wasn’t a kumbaya film session. He got on some guys and we know we needed to be better.”

The Kings will look to win their second in row when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. They will be looking to finish 9-6 on the second night of back-to-backs. It will be their last back-to-back of the season.