Sabrina Ionescu scores 30 points as Liberty head into Olympic break after another win over Sun

The Liberty walked off the court Tuesday night at Barclays Center and headed in the direction of their four-week-or-so timeout from WNBA play.

The top team in the league standings had a good test before it left for the All-Star/Olympic break, a matchup against second-place Connecticut. And it was an even harder test because the Liberty were minus starters Breanna Stewart and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.

Yet they did something for the fourth straight time and the 21st time in these first 25 games of the regular season. The Liberty won, beating the Sun, 82-74.

“It’s been a great first half,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said.

They own the best start after 25 games in franchise history. Now the Liberty don’t play again until Aug. 15. There are 15 games to go before the postseason.

“I think it’s scary when you think about the fact that we still have so much room to grow and that we’re still able to do what we’ve been doing,” Jonquel Jones said after her eight-point, seven-rebound, five-assist game. “And so I think it’s amazing.”

Sabrina Ionescu helped power them by nailing six threes and scoring 30 points, her 13th career game with at least 30, which set a Liberty record.

Stewart’s replacement, Kennedy Burke, had nine points and a career-high four steals. Laney-Hamilton’s replacement, Leonie Fiebich, had nine points and five rebounds.

The three who played as reserves — Kayla Thornton, Ivana Dojkic and Nyara Sabally — combined to outscore the Sun’s bench, 16-9.

Jones said “probably one of the biggest differences that you see with our team from last year versus this year” is the improved bench play.

Laney-Hamilton missed her fourth straight game and seventh overall due to her right knee. She will use the break to rehab it.

The 30-year-old guard/forward underwent what Brondello said was “a little bit of a cleanout” Tuesday to remove two floating bodies, and that “everything went well” with the “minor surgery.” The return timeline is four-to-six weeks.

“She could’ve kept playing, but it’s the Olympic break,” Brondello said. “Let’s get her some relief.”

Stewart, who was being rested after also missing Saturday’s win at Chicago with a hamstring issue, and Ionescu will be playing for Team USA against Jones and Team WNBA in the All-Star Game Saturday night in Phoenix.

Then it will be on to the Paris Olympics for Ionescu and Stewart. Fiebich and Sabally will also be there for Germany. And Brondello will be coaching Australia.

“I am excited because it’s an Olympic Games,” Brondello said. “It’s pretty special.”

So is being 21-4. That includes a 3-0 mark against 18-6 Connecticut.

It was 63-all heading for the fourth. But Ionescu helped get the Liberty going in the final period. She hit a three after a steal by Burke, then fed Burke for a layup.

A Thornton three and a fast-break layup by Dojkic made it a 10-2 run and a 73-65 lead.

The Sun hung in. They trailed just 76-72 after a three by Tyasha Harris. But Jones countered with an 18-footer. Then Thornton made a layup off a Dojkic steal for an 80-72 advantage with 2:16 remaining.

The Liberty outscored Connecticut, 19-11, in the fourth.

“They’ve got quality depth,” Sun coach Stephanie White said.

Brionna Jones scored 17 points and Alyssa Thomas contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Connecticut, although Thomas didn’t play in the fourth.

“She said she was resting,” Brondello said. “Getting ready for the Olympics, maybe.”

The Liberty led by 10 in the first and second quarters. Their edge was down to 45-42 at halftime. But they prevailed - again.

“Every time we play, every time we step out there,” Ionescu said, “it feels like someone else is making some magical play.”