The Connecticut Sun celebrated Wednesday when they got the word that post Brionna Jones earned her first WNBA All-Star selection.

"It was just chaos," Jones said.

Jones continued the celebration Thursday night with the best game in her five-year career. And a bloody nose.

Jones scored 22 of her 34 points in the first half to tie the franchise record for most points in a regulation game. She added seven rebounds and three steals in the Sun's 86-80 win over the pesky Indiana Fever at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

"It's crazy that I went from coming off the bench to now I'm starting and now I'm an all-star," Jones said earlier Thursday. "It’s crazy to think about. I still don't think it's sunk in all the way. I'm excited."

Jones was hit in the nose by the arm of Indiana's Jantel Lavender with 28.9 seconds left in the game. Jones fell to the floor and laid face down for a few moments before getting up and walking to the bench with a towel over her nose.

"I feel okay," Jones smiled after the game. "I think everything is in place. It's a little sore. I'll probably feel it (Friday), but I'm okay."

Jones made 14 of 19 field goals against Indiana. DeWanna Bonner (July 30, 2020) and Courtney Williams (June 13, 2018) are the other two players who've scored 34 in regulation in Sun history.

Shannon Johnson scored a franchise record 35 in a triple overtime game on June 8, 2002, when the franchise played in Orlando.

"Sometimes I thought she was unstoppable," Sun head coach Curt Miller said. "We see it all the time. We know how talented she is. We know how important she is to what we do. Now everyone is getting to see it. Again, just a monster night.

"(It) shouldn't surprise people anymore. She's absolutely established herself as an all-star in this league."

Sun forwards Jonquel Jones and Bonner were also selected to be part of a WNBA All-Star team that will play the United States' Olympic team on July 14 in Las Vegas.

Bonner had 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists and Jones scored 19 for Connecticut (12-5).

"They've had confidence in me from the beginning of the season," Brionna Jones said before the game. "They knew what I could do. Even if I didn’t always believe in myself, they did. It's going to be great to share that experience with them."

It was the 12th straight loss for Indiana (1-16) although it outplayed the Sun in the second half after trailing 55-37 at halftime.

Kelsey Mitchell had 21 points and Tiffany Mitchell scored 18 for the Fever.

Indiana shot 48.3 percent from the floor. It averaged 41 percent prior to the game.

"Indiana played a spirited second half," Miller said. "We let them hang around and I think we're very fortunate. I think we looked tired in our third game in five games. Probably our most disappointing defensive effort of the year."

Brionna Jones didn't make a big splash to start her WNBA career. She was the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft averaging 8 minutes and 3.2 points in 77 games over her first three seasons.

Jones was thrust into the starting lineup last year because Jonquel Jones opted out of the season due to the pandemic.

Brionna Jones emerged as one of the best surprises in 2020 and made herself a legitimate candidate for the Most Improved Player honor. She averaged 26.1 minutes, 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Jones has averaged 31.4 minutes, 15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds this year.

"It just goes back to when I was at Maryland and something Coach B (Brenda Frese) always said — to be ready whenever your number is called," Jones said before the game. "(I was) always being ready, getting extra shots, getting extra work in whenever I could."

Miller said prior to the game, "She has surpassed my expectations. I thought when we drafted her, she had a really good chance to be a quality role player playing off the bench. She's exceeded expectations.

"We're tough to beat when she's playing well. She anchors so much of what we do this year. … She is so talented defensively behind the actions. She's kind of a quarterback and she sees everything. Her basketball IQ allows her to be a step ahead of a lot in this game. You can never undervalue how important basketball IQ is in helping you in the game and she's got (an) elite level IQ."

n.griffen@theday.com