The Spurs Have a Chance to Shut Down Staples Center

A win for the San Antonio Spurs over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday can mean a little bit more than any regular victory.

As Spurs' play-by-play announcer Dan Weiss shared on Twitter last month, San Antonio's visit to the Staples Center will be the final sporting event before the building is renamed Crypto.com Arena on December 25th.

The Lakers have been playing in the building called Staples Center since its opening on October 17, 1999, when it took over for the Forum. Funny enough, the San Antonio Spurs defeated Los Angeles 118-107 in what was their final game in the Forum before the Lakers moved to the Staples Center the following season. On Thursday, they can somewhat repeat history.

While the building will remain the same, a partnership with the cryptocurrency website Crypto.com means the name "Staples Center" will be no longer after the Spurs visit looking for revenge.

The Lakers won the first two matchups with the Spurs this season, with the first one being an overtime thriller in the first week of the NBA season. A win by the Spurs Thursday wouldn't only help their confidence against Los Angeles, but it would be a fun note in history fans can point to as another small victory over Lakers fans.

LeBron James missed both games against the Spurs so far this season while Jakob Poeltl missed the second game of the series. Thursday's Christmas Eve Eve games should be a better game for the Spurs, who have had time to start finding their identity since the last time these teams clashed on November 14th.

The Lakers already have to play in an arena whose name has been mocked mercifully online. The Spurs have a chance to add just a little bit more insult to injury if they can play to their fullest potential in Los Angeles.