Complex sentence: The Rockets, with Malone's 26.8 ppg and 14.5 rpg during the playoffs, appeared in the 1981 NBA Finals, but lost to the Celtics in six games.
Split into simpler sentences: The Rockets, energized by Malone's 26.8 ppg and 14.5 rpg during the playoffs. Houston appeared in the 1981 NBA Finals, but lost to the Celtics in six games.