Nearly eliminated, rookies may finally play

LOS ANGELES — It’s soon going to be Mo Time and Marshall Time.

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said he figures once the Knicks (27-42) are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs — which could occur if they go 0-4 on this trip out West — he figures he’ll get the orders to play all six rookies on the roster.

That, he said, would include center Marshall Plumlee and forward Maurice Ndour, who has recovered from his ankle sprain but didn’t make the trip.

Ndour was assigned to the D-League Westchester Knicks and he scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and four steals Sunday in a victory over Erie.

As the Knicks face the Clippers on Monday at Staples Center, Hornacek is still ready to roll with his veterans with the Knicks seven games out of the eighth seed with 13 games left.

“Marshall has been back and forth in the D-League and we haven’t given him a ton of minutes with all the centers we have,’’ Hornacek said. “But every time he goes out in practice, he looks like one of the better guys out there. That’s a scenario that will play out a little bit more.’’

Same goes for Ndour, who played in his 14th DLeague game Sunday. He won’t join the trip unless an injury occurs but the medical staff is are rehabbing his ankle for an April return. The Knicks kept Ndour on the 15-man roster at the urging of Clarence Gaines, Phil Jackson’s top advisor, and works almost exclusively with associate head coach Kurt Rambis.

Out of training camp, the club kept Ndour over guard Chasson Randle, who was cut but re-signed after the All-Star break and now is getting playing time. The Knicks are already playing four rookies — Randle and combo guard Ron Baker, Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Willy Hernangomez. Only the latter was drafted.

At some point, the Knicks will trot out an all-rookie quintet.

Derrick Rose admitted the Knicks would need “a miracle’’ to land the eighth seed. They actually probably would have to either run the table or go 12-1.

“We didn’t click, we didn’t have that connection we wanted throughout the season,’’ Rose said. “You need that to go far in this league. It takes time and playing through mistakes learning a new system.’’