Nuggets' Anderson 'excused' during probe

The Denver Nuggets said swingman Chris Anderson has been excused from team activities while he is investigated for possible Internet crimes against children. Anderson, known as "Birdman" for his distinctive hairstyle and colorful tattoos, took part Thursday in a team shootaround but did not play Thursday night in the Nuggets 113-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series. The Denver Post reported Douglas County sheriff's detectives seized items from Anderson's Larkspur, Colo., home, but sheriff's office spokeswoman Deborah Sherman would not specify what was removed. "It could include many different things," Sherman said. "Right now we're not saying." Sherman said the sheriff's office contacted Anderson while he was at his home and "he cooperated fully." Andersen, 33, had not been arrested or charged with a crime as of Thursday night. "The Denver Nuggets are aware of today's media reports involving forward/center Chris Andersen. It involves a legal investigation and we are awaiting further details," the team said in a statement. "Per team policy, the Nuggets will not comment on any ongoing legal circumstance involving any player or employee." Mark Bryant, Andersen's attorney, issued a statement to the Post asking "the citizens of Colorado to give Chris his due." "Like every one of us, he is presumed innocent. At the end of the day, I am confident it will be shown that he did nothing wrong." Nuggets Coach George Karl said before the game against the Lakers he had spoken with Andersen but "I don't know enough information and we're advised probably not to talk about it until we know the information." "But the one thing I will say is, I trust Chris. My years with him, he's been fantastic and he's really grown as a person. We're going to support him and stand by him." Under Colorado law, Internet crimes against children could mean a range of offenses including exchanging pornographic images to using chat rooms to try to entice children into sexual activity, the newspaper said.