Bad enough that the Nets have invaded the Knicks’ turf, now, the ex-Nets are getting in the act, too.

Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch, exiled to Philadelphia in August in the Dikembe Mutombo deal, made their first regular-season return to the metro area a memorable one, combining for 32 points and 20 rebounds, igniting the 76ers to a 93-92 win over the Knicks yesterday.

“I’ve always loved playing at the Garden,” said Van Horn, whose game-high 12 rebounds included an offensive board and put-back that gave the Sixers the lead for good, 91-89, with 51.8 seconds left in the game, and also a defensive rebound in traffic off a missed Howard Eisley 3-pointer that virtually sealed the game.

“When I was playing for the Nets, especially in the bad years, it was always great to play here because the atmosphere here was second-to-none,” Van Horn said. “I know it isn’t like that all the time here now, but today, thanks to [Latrell] Sprewell coming back, it sounded like old times in here, and it was great.”

MacCulloch, meanwhile, exposed the Knicks’ glaring hole in the middle of their lineup, constantly exploiting mismatches underneath, hitting six of his nine shot attempts and clogging the middle in 31 effective minutes.

He also made a key shot, knocking down 1-of-2 free throws with 12.5 seconds left, extending a two-point Sixers lead to three, causing the Knicks to try to go for Eisley’s 3 after the ensuing timeout.

“I’m kicking myself for not making both of those,” MacCulloch said, “but I’m glad I was able to make the one. I think that took a lot of their options away. They didn’t have a timeout at the end so they had to go with the 3.”

Both Van Horn and MacCulloch show the effect of having played together for two solid years now, transferring the rapport they’d developed in the Meadowlands to the other side of the Jersey Turnpike. Van Horn, especially, seems comfortable in his new role on his new ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^team.

Before the game, Don Chaney had said of Van Horn: “Everyone wants him to be a superstar. I don’t think he is a superstar, but I do think he’s a star. He’s good, borderline great, creating matchup problems. I like him, personally.”

By the end of the day, Van Horn had proven him a prophet.