Chris Paul (left) of the Phoenix Suns defends against a pass to LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. Photo: VCG

Chris Paul overcame an injured shoulder and Jae Crowder busted out of a playoff slump Sunday as the Phoenix Suns took a 100-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost Anthony Davis to another injury.

Paul had 18 points and nine assists, while Crowder delivered 17 points as half a dozen players finished in double figures for the Suns, who clawed their way level at 2-2 in the Western Conference playoff series against the reigning NBA champions.

Paul had to plead with the coaching staff to get into the game, but the move paid off as he had his best game of the first-round series after injuring his shoulder in Game 1.

Paul said Suns coach Monty Williams was going to sit him, but Paul said he petitioned, "Give me a couple of minutes, see what I can do."

Crowder also had his best game so far, his 17 points the same number he scored in Games 2 and 3 combined. He grabbed seven rebounds in front of a pandemic-limited crowd of 8,000 at the Staples Center.

LeBron James scored a team-high 25 points and had 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who had to play half the game without eight-time NBA All-Star Davis.

Davis fell hard and went to the locker room with an apparent left leg injury. He finished with just six points after leading Los Angeles in scoring in Game 3 with 34. The Lakers said Davis, who missed 30 games in the regular season, had a strained groin and would be examined by team doctors on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Trae Young scored 27 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 113-96 victory over visiting New York on Sunday, pushing the Knicks to the brink of elimination.

Atlanta seized a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series with game five set for Wednesday in New York.

Also, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined for 81 points as the Brooklyn Nets routed the host Boston Celtics 141-126 in game four of their Eastern Conference series.