The Clippers show the Lakers all the things they are not in the first Intuit Dome rivalry game

The instrumental track behind one of Los Angeles’ biggest songs was played over the Intuit Dome’s best-money-can-buy sound system late in the opening half – the perfect tune for what had unfolded.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not like us” was not one Lakers diss track, and he didn’t even have to rap the chorus for the point to be driven home.

All the things that have done Cutting machines one of the surprises of the NBA season threatens to make the Lakers a disappointment, obstacles that the team has yet to overcome and those that, barring rebuilding the roster, may never happen.

Read more: Clippers guard Norman Powell continues to grind at an All-Star level

Defensive pressure all over the field? Yeah, the Lakers aren’t like that.

Consistent toughness and size? The Clippers have it.

Clear offensive identity and buy in? Well, neither are the Lakers.

The scoreboard confirmed the obvious to most of the Clippers’ 116-102 win Sunday night in the first meeting between the teams this season.

While the Lakers may have higher expectations because of their stars and because they have already been active in the trade market, the Clippers played Sunday like a team that had full confidence in itself, its identity and its plans for the future.

Their best basketball came on Sunday, when the game was probably already decided. Late in the third, as a “Let’s go Lakers” chant erupted in a primarily pro-Clippers crowd, the Lakers made a push and cut a 26-point lead down to 11. But LeBron Jamesone of the initiators during that stretch, missed three pointless looks at the basket, where the Lakers had to be perfect to have a real chance for a comeback.

They weren’t.

James led the Lakers (22-18) with 25 points and 11 assists, and Rui Hachimura scored 19, but no other Lakers player made a significant offensive impact, including Anthony Daviswho scored 16 points on five-for-14 shooting and Austin Reaveswho had 14 but could only create six shots. He left the game limping after appearing to injure his knee in the fourth.

The Lakers’ weaknesses are evident. They tried to hold on Ivica Zubac from dominating the paint, but the former Laker took advantage of the Lakers’ lack of size and finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds. They need playmaking help for Reaves and James, the two primary ball handlers who each account for five of the Lakers’ 17 turnovers.

And they need more defensive toughness to help limit a team like the Clippers, who run so much offense from the perimeter, to rougher nights than 52.8% shooting.

The Clippers, who people around the league almost unanimously expect, will likely be quiet at the trade deadline (despite having a number of players coveted by NBA teams). Their big move is more straightforward – reintegration Kawhi Leonard as they try to keep him available for the rest of the season.

Read more: Austin Reaves scores career-high 38 as Lakers edge D’Angelo Russell and Nets

Leonard played a season-high 24 minutes, 17 seconds as he continues to work his way back from the knee problems that have plagued him for much of his time with the Clippers. He scored 19 points on just 13 shots and dished out three of his four assists early in the first quarter to help the Clippers set the tone.

Norman Powell finished with 22 points and James Harden had 21 points and 12 assists for the Clippers (24-17).

The schedule will likely diminish the luster of the Clippers, who have won their last three games by an average of 34 points. They play five times this week and their schedule moved around due to wildfire postponements.

The Lakers have two more chances at home before they begin their annual Grammy road trip, hosting Washington on Tuesday before another rivalry game Thursday against the Celtics.

Sign up for our weekly Lakers newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.