Trendon Watford was cleared to play ahead of the Nets’ rematch against the Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, but Brooklyn was still without a healthy center and Karl-Anthony Towns was back on the court for New York after missing Friday’s interborough clash because of a knee injury.

But with consecutive wins over the rival Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks are close to passing a key test -- just as another one awaits. The Knicks will look to close out their homestand Monday night with a win against the Washington Wizards in the first battle of the season between the Eastern Conference rivals.