For the third time on this four-game homestand, the Jazz will welcome to EnergySolutions Arena a visiting team playing the second game of a back-to-back set. The previous two games, predictably, have been about as one-sided as an old Soviet election.

It remains an open question whether the Jazz's three-game winning streak is as much a product of improved play as it is a favorable schedule. Tonight's opponent, Indiana, will be making the final stop on a five-game trip after losing to Golden State 120-117 on Sunday.

"That's why when you look at the whole package, I'd say we've caught teams that are probably a little bit tired," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said Sunday. "You still have a chance to win the games and those are games you need to try to win.

"When we went to L.A., they waxed us. They had the game won before we could turn around. Where are we on those games? That's the thing that concerns me. I think this team is good enough to play against anybody if they come and put the effort into it."

Already on this homestand, the Jazz have flattened New Orleans by 26 and never trailed in beating Detroit by 17 on Saturday. The Hornets and Pistons were coming off draining victories the night before, against the Lakers and Denver, respectively.

So far this season, only Orlando and Chicago have come to Utah and beaten the Jazz in the second game of a back-to-back set.

What isn't in question is that the Jazz have regained their edge at home. After dropping four of their first 14 home games -- equaling their entire total from the 2007-08 season, in which they went a league-best 37-4 at home -- the Jazz have won five straight.

"I think everybody know we're a pretty good home team, especially," Andrei Kirilenko said, "and we're going to get it back and finally we start playing pretty good at home."

Kirilenko added that the Jazz wouldn't waste time worrying about the state of their opponents. Not with Carlos Boozer out another four weeks after undergoing left knee surgery and Deron Williams struggling with a sinus infection.

But Kirilenko has been encouraged by the Jazz's recent play. Mehmet Okur has scored 20 points or more in the last four games. The Jazz finished with 29 assists -- they had only one turnover at halftime -- and held Detroit to 82 points in Saturday's victory.

"I like the way we're playing right now because we're playing with a good energy," Kirilenko said.

Although he could have given his players Sunday off, Sloan opted to hold practice instead. No fan of American football, Kirilenko drew laughs when he tried to hurry along Sloan by saying he wanted to get home to watch the Eagles/Giants game.

The Jazz practiced without Williams, who stayed home sick, and C.J. Miles, who did rehab work for his sprained ankle.

Miles is doubtful to play tonight; Sloan would have to weigh starting Ronnie Price against a bigger Pacers backcourt.

Sloan joked that everyone was upset at him for having to practice, but he also noted how few opportunities the Jazz have had to practice in the last month.

Talking about the Jazz during the John Stockton/Karl Malone era, Sloan said: "The team I had before that was a good team, they practiced harder than anybody I've ever had."

Note: The Jazz moved into the Western Conference's top eight with Dallas' loss to Sacramento. The Jazz and Mavericks have 22-15 records, but the Jazz beat the Mavericks last month.

rsiler@sltrib.com