By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The Charlotte Bobcats are already having trouble on offense in Larry Brown’s first season. Now they’ll be without top scorer Jason Richardson for about a week.

After complaining of inflammation in his right knee, Richardson underwent an exploratory arthroscopic procedure on Wednesday. A team spokesman said no structural damage was found in the knee, but Richardson will miss Friday’s game against Utah and is doubtful for Sunday’s contest against Orlando.

It’s another headache for Brown, who has struggled to get the Bobcats to become consistent on offense. Charlotte is averaging 87.3 points per game, second worst in the NBA.

Richardson is averaging 17.6 points and shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. Richardson led Charlotte with 23 points in an 88-80 loss to Denver on Tuesday that dropped the Bobcats to 2-5 under Brown.

Richardson’s absence will likely mean more playing time for Adam Morrison, who scored 16 points off the bench against the Nuggets and has played well in his return from knee surgery.

Still, Richardson’s injury further depletes a thin roster. The Bobcats failed to make an offseason move to shore up the frontline despite putting small forward Gerald Wallace on the trading block.

Wallace could still be traded as Charlotte looks for a big man to open up the offense.

Richardson’s absence leaves Charlotte without its most consistent outside scoring threat. Richardson, who led the NBA with 243 3-pointers last season, has scored 20 or more points four times this season.

Richardson was acquired from Golden State in a draft night deal in 2007 that sent Brandan Wright, the No. 8 pick in the draft, to the Warriors.