Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 91-81 victory over the Lakers

Kobe Bryant hasn’t quite called it a career, but it feels like a ballgame for the rivalry between the Lakers and the Clippers. The Lakers are like a teen jock who lorded his athletic supremacy over his teammates for years only to watch them sprout into the better players after a 91-81 defeat against the Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center left the Lakers with 11 consecutive losses in the series. Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. There aren’t many goodbyes left for Bryant. It felt like a preliminary farewell to his final home game next Wednesday against Utah. There were cheers when he was introduced, touched the ball, took a shot and stepped to the free-throw line. The loudest roars came when he checked back in with 4:51 left in the game and the Lakers down by 11 points. Bryant could not engineer a comeback, largely because his teammates oddly didn’t find him the ball for a few possessions. Bryant looked 37 going on his prime in the first quarter, when he scored 10 points and made a flurry of moves that thrilled the crowd, but he could not sustain that pace. He finished with 17 points on six-for-19 shooting. Lakers fans will get one more chance to shower him with love.

2. Blake Griffin looked more like himself. The Clippers forward was the best player on the court in the first quarter, making all four of his shots and scoring 11 points. He caught the ball deep in the post and made moves, had a running jumper that fell through the net and made a 17-footer in the second quarter. Griffin faded a bit in the second half but still looked much better than the player who had scored six points in his first game back and four points in his second. “Blake looked great today,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “He got some rhythm back.”

3. Youth was served for the Lakers … like a turkey at Thanksgiving. Sure, power forward Julius Randle grabbed 20 rebounds, but he also made only three of 11 shots, inefficiency that was shared by guards Jordan Clarkson (five-for-15 shooting) and D’Angelo Russell (five for 13). It’s not really embarrassing considering the Clippers’ recent defensive excellence, not to mention their superior talent and the fact that they’re headed to the playoffs while the Lakers (they hope) will spend June focused on the draft lottery.

4. When will the Lakers actually win a game again in this series? The year 2020? You have to go back to the high-flying days of Xavier Henry to find a Lakers victory over the Clippers. It was the opener for both teams during the 2013-14 season, and the Lakers outran the Clippers in Rivers’ debut. It’s been as black as the covered-up Lakers banners during Clippers home games since. The Clippers have reeled off 11 consecutive victories in the series, a record for them, and show no signs of ceding supremacy. Even if the Lakers’ crossed fingers pay off and they keep their first-round draft pick in June AND hit a home run in free agency, it’s hard to envision them as the better team next season.

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant kisses his daughter Gianna at center court following a game against the Clippers.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant catches his breath during a break in the action against the Clippers.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant waves goodbye to fans after a game against the Clippers.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant tosses Chris Paul Jr. in the air as his father, Clippers guard Chris Paul, looks on following a 91-81 Clippers victory over the Lakers.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers Coach Byron Scott chuckles with assistant coach Paul Pressey and trainer Gary Vitti during the game against the Clippers on Wednesday.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson steals the ball from Clippers teammates J.J. Redick and Blake Griffin during first quarter action.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers forward Blake Griffin is fouled by Lakers center Roy Hibbert during first half action.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Fans cheer as Lakers forward Kobe Bryant hits a three-point shot during first half action against the Clippers.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers center DeAndre Jordan blocks the shot of Lakers forward Kobe Bryant during first half action.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant slices to the basket for a first half score over Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers center Cole Adrich tries to control a rebound as Lakers center Tarik Black battles him for position during first half action.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) greet each other prior to their final game against each other.

  (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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Lakers center Tarik Black is stripped of the ball by Clippers guard C.J. Wilcox and forward Jeff Green during first half action.

  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

5. Jeff Green’s knee injury doesn’t appear to be serious. The Clippers forward was down on the court for a few minutes late in the third quarter after knocking knees with the Lakers’ Tarik Black, but it didn’t seem to be anything a heavy dose of ice and some rest couldn’t fix. It was unclear whether Green would make the trip to Salt Lake City for the Clippers’ game against the Jazz on Friday. Rivers said Griffin would not make the trip and Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick said he was staying home as well. The status of the team’s other starters could hinge on whether guard Austin Rivers (sore ankle) and Wesley Johnson (plantar fasciitis) can play against Utah. Rivers has said he would prefer his top players not make the team’s final two trips of the regular season.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch