The match was Yao's last for the national team this year. The Houston Rockets center will now attend the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Special Olympics before leaving to the US for the start of the NBA season.

China's national team clinched six wins out of the eight games the "small giant" attended this year.

China strived to get an early break, but their efforts were blocked by their Russians who finished the opening quarter 20-17 thanks to faster breakthroughs and more accurate shooting.

China pulled up level at 61-61 in the third period but fell behind again in the fourth, during which time the Russians succeeded in maintaining their narrow lead right through to the end.