Clippers take a moment to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant, then take the Lakers apart, 103-81

The scene played out like so many had before it. Kobe Bryant was driving and scoring on the scoreboard as part of a video tribute before the game.

He tapped his heart and waved to fans, his lips visibly saying, “Thank you.” There was a “Kobe!” chant even though the Lakers were the visiting team.

Then something else entirely expected happened: The feel-good vibe ended there for Bryant and the Lakers.

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They were a mess for most of a 103-81 loss to the Clippers on Tuesday night at Staples Center, more “Kobe!” chants in the final minutes unable to drown out the reality facing the Lakers.

They have lost 10 consecutive games in a series that was long a runaway in the other direction, and face the likely prospect of another defeat when the teams meet again Wednesday in a designated Lakers home game. A loss in that one would drop the Lakers to 16-62, breaking the franchise record for losses in a season that they set a year ago.

“He is a champion and I hate to see him go out this way,” Lakers Coach Byron Scott said of Bryant’s enduring loss after loss. “It bothers the hell out of me.”

Chris Paul totaled 25 points and eight assists in three quarters for the Clippers, whose 24-point lead entering the fourth spared their starters from any further game duty. Jeff Green scored 21 points off the bench for the Clippers (49-28), though Blake Griffin was out of sorts again with four points on one-for-five shooting in his second game back from an absence of more than three months.

Meanwhile, Bryant sat on the bench in the game’s final minutes with a towel slung over his shoulders and his legs wrapped in ice, the crowd’s “We want Kobe!” chants unable to budge him back onto the court. He finished with six points on an unsightly two-for-12 shooting in 22 minutes.

His most memorable move may have been acknowledging the Clippers’ unofficial mascot after the game.

“I’m going to miss Clipper Darrell,” Bryant said. “His passion and enthusiasm for the game, constant booing and cheering. I had a couple moments where I was able to acknowledge him.”

Lakers youngsters Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell weren’t much better than Bryant, combining to make eight of 30 shots. Clarkson left the game in the fourth quarter after getting stepped on, though X-rays on his right foot/lower leg were negative.

The first quarter was full of lowlights for the Lakers, who missed 10 of their first 11 shots and fell behind, 20-2. Bryant missed all six of his shots, including several forced jumpers. About midway through the quarter, a fan yelled, “Let Kobe score!”

It finally happened a few minutes later after Bryant double-pumped J.J. Redick into the air and drew a foul. There were the usual “MVP!” chants as Bryant made both free throws.

Bryant made his first basket on a 13-foot jumper over Redick with a little more than two minutes to go in the second quarter. That made him one for nine.

“Just trying to push,” Bryant said, referring to there being only five more games left in his career. “Some games will be better than others but just going out there and do what you can.”

The Lakers were saved from a complete runaway by a throwback performance from veteran forward Metta World Peace, of all people. World Peace stole the ball from Griffin for a breakaway dunk early in the second quarter and had 10 of his 17 points by halftime as the Lakers pulled to within 52-44.

That was about as competitive as it got.

The Clippers’ pregame video tribute to their longtime nemesis included personal messages from Paul Pierce and Paul, along with “THANK YOU KOBE” in big block letters. Bryant was the theme of the night, as expected, in his final game as a visitor against the Clippers.

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers spent a good chunk of his time with reporters before the game reminiscing about facing Bryant in the playoffs. Rivers recalled refusing to take out his starters in the 2008 Finals even though the Celtics “were up by 1,000 in Game 6” because Bryant was still on the court.

“He put that fear in you, man,” Rivers said. “He could run off threes. Obviously, I wasn’t that good in math, so I was worried about him. Finally, Phil [Jackson] took him out so I could sub. That was good.”

Bryant will get one more chance to beat the Clippers on Wednesday, assuming he plays in the final meeting of the season between the teams. He’ll emerge a big winner in the rivalry regardless, the Lakers having gone 49-29 in the series since his arrival even with the Clippers’ recent dominance.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch