Yao Ming returned after a four-month layoff from a foot injury, revitalizing China in an 82-73 loss to Dirk Nowitzki and Germany on Friday in a warmup game leading to the world championships.

Yao scored 11 points but was no match for Nowitzki, who gave the Rockets center a playful slap on the chest at the start. Nowitzki finished with 27 points, including 18 in the final quarter, and 12 rebounds. The German star of the Mavericks scored nearly at will against Yao and almost every other Chinese player.