NBA PLAYOFFS : It’s Double and Nothing for Bulls : Pro basketball: Strategy of ganging up on O’Neal backfires again as Grant scores 24 to lead Magic past his old team, 103-95, for a 3-2 lead in Eastern semifinal.

Horace?

Hulkster?

The Bulls’ world trembled Tuesday night but it wasn’t merely because of Shaquille O’Neal or Anfernee Hardaway.

A wrestler named Hulk Hogan showed up to lead cheers and a former Bull named Horace Grant lowered the boom on his old teammates as the Magic overcame a woeful start--try 31% shooting from the floor in the first half--to smack the Bulls, 103-95, taking a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Grant made 10 of 13 shots, scored 24 points and took 11 rebounds, boosting his series averages to 20 points, 12 rebounds and 70% shooting from the floor.

Grant’s former teammates--and his old coach, Phil Jackson--have been leaving him to double-team Shaquille O’Neal. So far, as strategy, it ranks with Custer’s decision to charge at Little Bighorn.

“I’m very happy they’re not guarding me,” Grant said. “I’m not going to say anything to get Phil mad or get anyone mad so they start guarding me. I’m having a ball out there.

For moral support, Hogan, who lives in nearby Clearwater, came over. Hogan is friendly with O’Neal and no one would have thought the Hulkster’s presence was a cheap publicity gimmick if he hadn’t come in his trademark yellow headband, tattered sleeveless yellow T-shirt (he passed out T-shirts to fans sitting next to him), red tights and yellow cowboy boots.

Nevertheless, the crowd was dead and the Magic comatose, missing its first nine shots. Then Orlando started the second quarter two for 15. O’Neal missed his first six free throws and seven of his first nine shots from the floor.

“I wasn’t frustrated,” said O’Neal. “It’s just I hadn’t been off in about 80 games. I said to myself, ‘Why now?’ ”

In a minor miracle, the Magic trailed only 50-43 at halftime, hanging in behind Grant, who had 12 points, and Dennis Scott, the deadeye who’d gone two for 16 on three-point shots in the first three games but who made three in the first half.

Jackson has clung stonily and stubbornly to his let-Horace-shoot strategy.

“That’s our game plan,” he said after Game 4, “and we’re sticking with it.”

However, it came up at the Bulls’ coaches meeting Tuesday morning, which they had in the hotel’s concierge lounge within earshot of several writers.

Assistant Tex Winter chuckled to Jackson that “Horace is trying to show you he can shoot.” Jackson growled about doing something “unsportsmanlike” to someone.

The Magic, given a chance to regroup in the second half, did.

Orlando started the third quarter making nine of 10 shots in a 22-10 run, with Scott making two more three-point baskets and the game turned around that quickly.

The Magic led, 78-70, starting the fourth quarter, which became a debacle for the Bulls, supposedly the experienced veteran team.

With 8:24 left and the Bulls down, 83-78, Jackson had to take out Michael Jordan, who led all scorers with 39 points.

With 7:02 left and the Bulls down, 87-78, Jackson rushed Jordan back in.

With 3:40 left and the shot clock running out, Toni Kukoc fouled Scott on a 17-foot jumper. Scott made both free throws to make it 93-83.

Jackson, asked about the Grant strategy, gave the usual recitation: “Well, someone is going to be open when you double-team and the guy was Horace Grant tonight.”

Tonight? The guy has been Horace Grant for five games.

“Someone’s got to be open when you double-team,” said Jackson, bristling. “Do I have to say it again?”

Grant insisted there was nothing special or personal in this.

“I believe whatever he says,” said Grant’s pal, Scottie Pippen.

How did it look to Pippen?

“Looks pretty special,” said Pippen, grinning one of the Bulls’ few grins Tuesday night.