Last game of a long, frustrating trip, facing the Jazz in their invincible environment, figuring their best player would be unavailable . . . other than that, they were feeling good.

"I just know, from playing on a different team, coming here - it's not like you dread any game, but it was like, it's going to be a tough game," said Korver, traded by the Philadelphia 76ers in December after making four annual visits to Utah. "It's been that way here for a long time. I'm glad to play here because of that."

The Jazz themselves may have treated Monday's homecoming event like the fifth game of a seven-day trip, judging by their sluggish start and third-quarter lull. Apparently, it was all scripted perfectly, in an effort to showcase the home-court advantage that tends to kick in during the fourth period and to underscore Korver's contribution.

"It's kind of fun," Korver said after a 96-79 victory on his 27th birthday. "I've never lost here."

Not in a Jazz uniform, anyway. Coincidentally or not, the 19-game home winning streak that ties the franchise record started New Year's Eve, thefirst time Korver took the court wearing white. He's not taking any credit for the successful run, so maybe it's Kate Harpring's doing. Jazz forward Matt Harpring's daughter was born the night of win No. 4, and remains unaware that her dad's team ever loses in this building.

Korver, Harpring, Ronnie Price, Paul Millsap and, yes, Jarron Collins all did their parts Monday when the Jazz reserves "did better than the first group," Deron Williams said, more as a compliment to them than as criticism of himself and the other starters.

In fairness to the regulars, who scored barely half (49) of the team's points, Mehmet Okur exited for good midway through the first quarter because of stomach flu.

The initial explanation for his departure was "nauseated," which is where another sellout crowd was headed before the Jazz righted themselves.

This is all you need to know about win No. 19: The Jazz went nearly seven minutes without making a basket in the first quarter, while missing nine shots and losing four turnovers. In the second period, Price and Collins accounted for 11 points in less than 2 1/2 minutes.

Actually, there's more necessary knowledge: The Jazz were outscored 31-22 in the third quarter, allowing the Raptors to tie the game. With Korver, Harpring and Price joining Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, the Jazz opened the fourth quarter with a 24-4 run.

End of game, end of the Raptors' admirable effort without injured forward Chris Bosh to conclude an 0-5 trip and beginning of the buildup to Thursday - when the Jazz can break their record by beating the Los Angeles Lakers. That would provide some validation that was missing Monday, when Toronto was another in a series of teams that have trudged into town under tough circumstances.

That's not to totally discredit this streak that matches two runs from the Stockton/Malone era. The Jazz have been equal-opportunity hosts. Besides beating injury-depleted teams, teams worn down by long trips and just plain bad teams, they have handled the likes of Detroit, San Antonio, Orlando, New Orleans and Dallas.

Not even the green uniforms worn by the usually red-and-black Raptors or any other St. Patrick's Day shenanigans could shake the Jazz. This is the kind of NBA game that a home team wins, especially here and now.

"This is just a really great environment to play in when you're the home team," Korver said, "and it's tough when you're not."

kkragthorpe@sltrib.com

Home and away

The Jazz are 19-0 at home since Kyle Korver joined them, but his field-goal shooting statistics are actually better on the road.

Home

19 .444 .352 .981 10.7 19-0

Road

18 .548 .433 .778 9.9 10-8