NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 111, Houston 82

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant had 23 points and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a slow start Sunday to beat Houston 111-82 for their fifth straight win to start the season.

Pau Gasol scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, Andrew Bynum had 13 points and seven rebounds and Jordan Farmar finished with 16 points and six assists for the Lakers, who trailed 41-28 four minutes into the second quarter before going on a 22-7 run and taking and 50-48 halftime lead.

The Lakers then put the clamps on Houston, limiting the Rockets to 34 second-half points.

Aaron Brooks had 20 points to lead the Rockets, who have lost three of their last four games after opening the season with three straight wins.

Luis Scola scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Yao Ming finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for Houston. Tracy McGrady went 1-for-11 from the field and finished with three points.

The Lakers shot 53.2 percent from the field, while the Rockets shot just 37.8 percent.