By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — The Los Angeles Lakers were quick to remind the Knicks on Sunday that they still have a ways to go before being championship contenders.
Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and Los Angeles used it's size in the paint to stifle New York defensively as the Lakers cruised to a 109-87 over the Knicks at the Staples Center.
New York, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, was held to 36 percent shooting and was outrebounded 61-42.
"They really packed the paint and made us a perimeter team," Knicks rookie Landry Fields told the Associated Press. "Guys got a little chippy out there, but it’s fun to play like that sometimes."
The teams got physical in the second half when Lakers forward Ron Artest drew a flagrant foul for clotheslining Amar'e Stoudemire. Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum was ejected from the game later for complaining about a technical foul.
Stoudemire struggled against Lakers 7-footers Bynum and Pau Gasol. The Knicks power forward had just five points on 1-for-10 shooting at halftime. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but shot just 7-for-23 for the game.
Wilson Chandler added 19 points and Fields chipped in with 12 for New York. The loss snapped the Knicks nine-game winning streak against Western Conference opponents.