Complex sentence: The Sixers' strong showing in Game 5 gave them hope for Game 6 in the Forum, but the Lakers got the early lead and were up, 66-57, at the half.
Split into simpler sentences: The Sixers' strong showing in Game 5 gave them hope for Game 6 in the Forum. But, the Lakers got the early lead and were up, 66-57, at the half.