LeBron, elbow finally able to slow Kristaps’ record scoring pace

It was a rare off night for Kristaps Porzingis. Maybe it was LeBron James. Maybe it was the new contraption on his elbow.

With James hounding him at times, Porzingis fell short of his now-usual 30 points. And for the first time he wore a long white right elbow sleeve for his bursitis, a condition that may need surgery.

Previously Porzingis, who has admitted to lingering swelling, had only donned the sleeve during practice so it wouldn’t affect his shooting motion. But after shooting just 7-of-21 for 20 points in the 104101 Knicks’ collapse, he may ditch it. It was only the fourth time in the 12 games he’s played this season he didn’t score at least 30 points.

“It was for extra protection for the elbow,’’ Porzingis said. “It didn’t help as much. If I fell on it, it hits so hard, the little protection didn’t do anything.’’

Porzingis picked up two fouls in the opening four minutes and never got untracked. Though he scored 10 fourth-quarter points, he also missed two free throws with 2:27 left and 3-of-4 overall in the final 3:30. James made it a point of defending Porzingis in the second half and blocked one of his turnarounds.

“He’s obviously strong in the post,’’ said Porzingis, who entered the game averaging 30.2 points. “I should’ve used that better — my length. It was really physical. He is who he is. I should’ve been maybe smarter and make a better play. The respect will be earned in the future.’’

If that was a knock on the officiating, he didn’t specify. But Porzingis admitted to being too lax on James’ tiebreaking step-back 3-pointer with 1:43 left.

“I was giving him more space than I usually do,’’ Porzingis said. “[You’re] not going to take away everything.” Ramon Sessions was spared and believes he’ll still help the

Knicks — and rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina.

To make room for Joakim Noah on the roster, the Knicks axed popular forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas and kept the demoted Sessions, who lost his starting point-guard job to Jarrett Jack after the season’s third game.

The Post reported Sunday the idea of keeping Sessions would be as point-guard insurance in case Jack, who has knee problems, goes down.

Sessions said he still believes he can help — even if he’s only played once since his demotion, and didn’t get into Monday’s loss.

“That’s one of the reasons they still got me here,’’ Sessions told The Post before the Knicks hosted the Cavaliers. “I could’ve been the odd man out but they kept me. I’ll continue to be ready for that time. Ron Baker injured his shoulder in a G-League game Sunday.